One of the first steps you need to do to keep your pet happy is to get rid of ticks and fleas. A flea collar will help you do that. Although these collars can’t cure an infestation, they work very well at preventing one. There have been recent advancements in flea collars which make them more effective. But you might not know exactly how they work. Here is what you need to know.
How Flea Collars Work
Flea and tick collars have two basic functions; to repel and to treat. In order to repel pests, the collar emits a gas. Collars that treat have medications that seep into the fat layer on your pet’s skin, or they use an active ingredient that uses the pet’s natural skin oil to spread.
Some collars will only serve one of the above-mentioned purposes. But some brands will both repel and treat at the same time. So, before you buy a collar, it is important that you read the box carefully to know which kind you are buying.
The key ingredients in flea and tick collars that make them work include:
- Deltamethrin
- Amitraz
- Pyriproxyfen
- Propoxur
How to use a flea collar
You should keep your pet protected from fleas at all times. When pest concerns are higher than usual, such as when your dog romps through tall grasses where ticks are known to thrive, make sure the collar is on. Once you are out of a pest-infested area, you can remove the collar and keep it in an airtight container for future use.
There are pet owners who give oral tablets to their pets while some prefer a monthly application to their skin. If you fall into the category that uses a collar, make sure you remove the collar when the day is done. Otherwise, you will be over-medicating your pet when there’s no real risk.
It is important to understand that most of the active ingredients in flea and tick medications are neurotoxins. When you encounter them in small doses, they can pose harm to insects but not pets. However, if you expose your dog to high and prolonged double-treatments, then you will notice negative side effects.
One trick is to place a flea collar inside your vacuum cleaner bag when you are recovering from a home infestation. Then, when you vacuum up any eggs or lingering bugs, you will kill them with the collar inside the bag.
Why Should You Get a Flea Collar?
One of the main reasons why pet owners use a flea collar is because it is one of the cheapest ways of controlling pests. Also, they are longer-lasting than other products in the market. There are even brands that claim their collars will maintain their effectiveness for up to 12 months.
The Shortcomings of Flea Collars
Although collars work effectively to keep pests away, they are only effective around the neck area since that’s where they are worn. This, unfortunately, leaves the hindquarters unprotected. A collar may be the best option if ticks are your main concern. However, if fleas and ticks are equally an issue, then you may have to look for something else other than just a collar.
Another word of caution is that the medication in the collar has proven to be detrimental to children. Especially if they are in close contact with the dog under treatment. There is nothing much you can do about a child who wants to play with a pet. And since they will most likely touch the collar then want to rub their eyes and mouth, you have to be extra careful. There is also the chance that other dogs can ingest the medicine from a flea collar of a dog under medication. For these reasons, collars have the potential to be less safe compared to topical treatments.
But with that being said, like any other medication flea collars may have their setbacks, but the setbacks don’t stop the collar from being effective in combating pests. Also, because ticks and fleas gravitate around the neck, this is the best solution for keeping them at bay.