Dog Flea Collars – Do They Really Work?

Bayer Seresto Dog Flea and Tick Collar Review

Topical flea control products usually have to be applied each month. The Seresto flea collar on the other hand, provides flea and tick prevention for up to 8 months so you’ll only have to remember to replace it on your dog once or twice a year.

It’s important to note that 8 months is a guide; this collar is designed to prevent fleas for up to 8 months at a time. Some people do like to replace it every 6 months or so, just to be sure that your dog is getting the maximum possible protection all throughout the year.

This Seresto dog collar works by slowly releasing a controlled dosage of the ingredients over this period of time.

Are there any side effects with the Seresto flea collar?

This tick and flea collar has one of the least reported side effects amongst all the ones I’ve looked very closely at in this guide. Certainly compared with some of the other products here, as you’ll see in their individual reviews, issues relating to adverse effects are quite rare with the Bayer collar.

Rather than negative reactions, which is a concerning problem that some other products do have a higher reported rate of, the main negative sentiment (and let me say again, these are very rare), is that people didn’t see the results they expected. This can happen for a variety of reasons, and might not have anything to do with the collar itself.

A heavy flea infestation takes time to control, and requires environmental treatment, as well as directly on the dog. If flea eggs are still present in the environment, the cycle won’t be broken.

Unfortunately this is one of the main reasons people might think that the Seresto collar isn’t working; to fix this issue, use a household flea treatment product and/or wash and replace all dog bedding to ensure that ALL stages of the fleas in the environment are removed. When it comes to ticks, it goes without saying that a visible tick should be manually removed by you or your vet, rather than waiting for the collar’s effects to take hold while the tick gorges on your dog.

This is a good option for people who simply don’t want to worry about forgetting to apply monthly flea and tick treatments, or just want the simplicity of having it built into a functional collar on their dog. There is no odor at all and the collar is available in two sizes for small and large dogs (there is also a seperate cat version).

Dogs can start wearing a Seresto flea collar from the age of 7 weeks onwards. It’s very simple to attach and is designed to be comfortable when worn, just like any other dog collar.

The length of the Seresto can be cut to size once you’ve got it comfortably on your dog – simply cut off any excess at the end of the collar. This makes it adaptable to any dog size, and means you don’t have to worry about measuring up your dog’s neck. If your dog is still growing, leave some length on the collar so you can adjust it when needed.

See the current price on the Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for dogs

Arava Flea and Tick Collar Review

The Arava Flea and Tick Control Collar makes it very clear on the packaging that this is a collar that is “free of chemical pesticides”. The active formula in this collar is made of 15 all natural ingredients and in fact, they are also listed on the front of the box:

• Peppermint
• Cinnamon
• Lemongrass
• Clove
• Thyme
• Neem
• Lemon Eucalyptus
• Eastern Red Cedar
• Catnip
• Feverfew
• Pine
• Bitter Orange
• Bay
• Rue
• Rosemary

That’s quite a list of herbs, spices, plant extracts and other natural botanicals.

While they might not sound like the type of substances that would kill and ward off fleas and ticks, the key is that they are used in high concentration in the form of essential oils which are known to be avoided and disliked by insects.

How does this work to kill fleas? The strong essential oil concentration literally chokes the fleas by blocking their airways. Not only fleas though, any insect (the company says about 500 insects) that makes its way near your dog will be repelled by the collar, meaning that other insect irritations can be dealt with at the same time.

So while the concentration of these natural essential oils are certainly strong enough to kill insects, they are absolutely safe for your dog (no matter what age), other pets, and your kids to be in contact with.

Unlike some other collars, the Arava comes in a one size fits all design. The collar is 25 inches/63cm long. Once you’ve fitted the collar comfortably to your dog, simply cut any excess off the end.

This simple design allows the Arava to be worn comfortably on any sized dog, from small puppies up to adults of the larger breeds.

The way the collar works is simple: it’s been soaked in a solution of the above essential oils which is designed to provide flea and insect protection for about 5 months. This is a little bit shorter than some other collars, but that can be the trade-off with natural solutions versus the more harsh chemicals that are designed to last longer.

And yes, this collar doesn’t lose any of its effectiveness if it gets wet, so you don’t have to worry about taking it off if your dog loves to play in water.

Pros

• Provides 5 months of flea control
• All natural essential oils – no chemicals
• One size fits all – adjustable for any dog size

Cons

• Rated at 5 months of protection; lower than most other brands. Not a big issue, as many people will want to replace any flea/tick collar within about 6 months so maximum protection is provided year round.

Baltic Amber Flea and Tick Collar

This completely natural collar not only does away with insecticides and other chemicals, it does not use any substances at all.

Unlike most dog flea control products, a baltic amber collar can be used on cats too. That’s because traditional flea formulas often contain the chemical permethrin (amongst others) which is highly toxic to cats. Because Baltic amber collars contain no chemicals or substances, this is not an issue that you’ll need to worry about with this collar.

While amber collars are often used to provide overall “protection” for dogs and cats, many people also use them as a way to help repel fleas. The physical effect of the amber gems just repel the fleas and ticks, so they can’t get a hold on your dog’s fur. Many people also note how mosquitos and other pests are also repelled when a dog is wearing this collar. So it goes just beyond being another anti-flea product.

It also provides peace of mind if you have cats that come into contact with your dog while he’s wearing a flea collar – you simply won’t have to worry about toxicity.

How it works:
Well this is a highly unique method that involves using static electricity generated from the amber beads around the collar when they are in contact with the dog’s fur. This is then meant to make it very uncomfortable and difficult for fleas, ticks or other insects to grip on to the fur and thus, they fall off.

This is of course harmless and unnoticeable by the dog as this small amount of static electricity is extremely weak against anything larger than, well, a flea.

If there’s a downside to this collar, it’s that it will not be effective on a dog that has an existing heavy infestation of fleas. The ideal option in that case would be to use a once off spot-on treatment or a thorough wash with an effective shampoo to kill off the existing fleas, and then the Amber collar can be used from then on to prevent any more fleas making their home on your dog.

Final word: A fantastic collar for year long flea and tick control. Excellent choice for households that also have cats – no risks to felines unlike most chemical-based dog flea products. The only negative is the fact that the Amber collar, due to its gentle nature, won’t rid your dog of a heavy infestation of fleas initially, so use this collar after a one-off flea removal process if required.

Find the current price on the Amber Flea and Tick Collar

Hartz Ultraguard Plus Flea and Tick Collar

The Hartz range of Ultraguard Plus flea & tick control collars comes in two sizes – one for puppies and small dogs (up to 15″ neck size) and one for most other dogs with a 22″ neck size and above.

The Plus range of Ultraguard collars has a flea and tick prevention period of about 7 months.

Ultraguard makes use of chemical insecticides to kill fleas on a dog, just like the ingredients that are used in their spot-on treatments. Unfortunately, quite a number of people have reported their dog having some concerning side effects when using this collar, ranging from irritation, to heavy panting and lethargy.

Additionally, the collar has not proven to be as effective as other brands with our research finding that fleas were still being found on some dogs – even after several weeks of wearing the collar in some cases.

While the Hartz Ultraguard flea collar has received a positive result for many dog owners, the number of people who continue to be disappointed in the results or worse, having their dog experience negative side effects, means that we would encourage you to look at other flea and tick collars instead.

Final word: Has potential to work well, but too many reports of ineffective results and side effects; better options are available.

Check the price on the Hartz Ultraguard Plus Flea and Tick Collar

Adams Plus Flea and Tick Collar For Dogs Review

The Adams flea and tick collar is a low cost option which provides good protection against all forms of fleas and ticks.

This collar from Adams protects against both fleas and ticks for up to 7 months, which is about the standard period of time when comparing the different tick and flea collar products.

Most people will prefer to swap the collar twice each year, just to make sure that it’s working at its maximum level all year round, but particularly in the warmer months when fleas are at their most prolific or if you have a dog that spends a lot of time outdoors and potentially in contact with ticks.

This is a collar you don’t have to worry about removing if your dog loves a splash, because water won’t cause it to stop working if it’s exposed.

All states of the flea cycle are targeted with the Adams Plus collar:

• Flea eggs
• Flea larvae
• Adult fleas

Plus of course, it covers ticks as well, including their larvae and nymphs. It’s designed to start working right away for fleas. It will take a few days to provide a big enough dosage to kill off larger ticks (if you know your dog has a tick, please remove it or have a vet do so, rather than wait for a collar to do the job).

The ticks that Adams Plus collar can target include American Dog Ticks, Lone Star Ticks and Brown Dog Ticks.

Adams also has a flea/tick collar for cats – so if you have a cat, do not use this (or any) dog flea collar on a feline. Instead, purchase the cat version only. All animals in the house should have appropriate flea and tick prevention if you are to stay on top of controlling them.

There are only two sizes to choose from: Small and Large.

The small collar fits dogs with size up to 15″.

The large sized collar will fit dogs with a neck measurement of up to 25″.

Note: 6 weeks of age is the minimum age that the Adams Plus collar should be used on puppies. They instruct not to put one on a dog younger than that.

Once you’ve put the collar on with a finger space between the collar and your dog’s neck, you can cut the remaining part of so it doesn’t hang down or irritate your dog.

The success and effectiveness of this collar is not 100% certain. There are reports out there of people not seeing a reduction or elimination of either the existing fleas or ticks on their dog. This can happen for a number of reasons, most notably if the environment and bedding is not also treated as it needs to be, the breeding cycle is not being broken and shut down.

It could also point to the Adams collar not being the most powerful or effective one available. With that said however, many people DO see great results with it. With its low cost, this collar is an appealing option for most people. Those who live in excessively flea or tick-heavy areas, or have a big current infestation, may see better immediate results with some of the stronger products out there.

Something else that can cause some concern with the Adams collar (and this can be an issue with some others as well), is the scent. Some people will notice a chemical type smell, and it’s not to everyone’s liking. Spot on flea treatments that use chemical based ingredients obviously have a smell as well, but this generally recedes soon after you’ve applied it.

The ingredients used in this collar are chemical insecticides, like many flea products. Keep other pets (especially birds and other sensitive animals) and children away from chemical based flea collars.

The ingredients used in the Adams Plus collar are:

• Tetrachlorvinphos 14.55%
• (S)-Methoprene 1.02%

Are there any side effects being reported about the Adams flea & tick collar?

I’ve found very few reports of irritations or other side effects being experienced by dogs wearing this collar. I do note that the cat version of the flea collar has signifcantly more reports of adverse reactions being experienced. Most of the negative sentiments I’ve discovered about this collar revolve around people’s disappointment with it not working to kill of fleas and ticks as they expected.

On the other side of the coin, many people are also seeing great results. Unfortunately, it does tend to be one of those products that won’t know if you’ll be happy with until you’ve personally tried it. Thankfully, it is not a large financial investment to make if you want to do that.

As with any flea treatment though – always keep an eye on your dog particularly when you first start using a new collar.

Take note of any signs of irritation around the neck area, and always remove the collar immediately if your dog is experiencing any discomfort.

Let’s face it: this is a very low cost flea control collar. There’s a chance it may work very well for you, and there’s also a chance that its performance will disappoint.

If you want more certainty of results, try one of the other (slightly higher priced) collars from another brand like Seresto.

Adams vs Adams Plus flea & tick collars – what’s the difference?
If you’ve been shopping around you probably noticed there are actually two different Adams tick and flea control collars available. The regular version, and the Plus version. What’s the difference? It’s not really made obvious what differentiates these two.

They both provide up to 7 months of protection. They both use the same ingredients at the same quantities as I’ve listed above. Despite this, the regular Adams collar specifies that it kills fleas, ticks, flea eggs and flea larvae. While the Plus collar adds tick larvae and tick nymphs to the list.

However: the fact that both collars use the exact same ingredients indicates that they should work identically. The collar itself is identical, besides color. It is unfortunate that there is confusion about the difference between these two products. My advice, currently until I gain more clarity: treat both the Adams and the Adams Plus flea and tick collars as identical and simply choose the one that is more convenient for you to buy for your dog’s size.

See the current price of the Adams and Adams Plus flea and tick collars at Amazon

Salvo Flea & Tick Collar Review

Small size: For dogs with a neck width up to 14″
Large size: For dogs with a neck up to 22″

Active ingredient: Deltramethrin

Deltramethrin is a type of pyrethroid insecticide. Pyrethroids are considered safe for dogs, but are dangerous for cats so any pyrethroid based dog flea product, like this Adams collar, should be kept well away from cats.

Salvo Collar Side Effects

Despite the fact that this sort of chemical is considered safe for use on dogs, some dogs are sensitive and experience negative side effects such as mild to severe skin reactions. If this happens with your dog, remove the collar right away.

Unfortunately, the Salvo collar presently has too many reports of concerning side effects for us to be able to confidently recommend it as a quality and safe flea control option. Issues that I’ve come across include a burning sensation on the neck, and severe inflammation on the neck. Concerningly, some dog owners have also noticed their dog having muscular spasms as a more severe side effect of using the Salvo dog collar for flea control.

Dr Mercola Herbal Repellent Collar

This collar is another option for people looking for a non-chemical based solution for flea and tick control. The Dr Mercola herbal collar is a repellent – that means it aims to stop insects, including fleas and ticks, from being attracted to your dog’s body.

The formula relies on natural plant based oils: Geraniol, Wintergreen and Almond oil. The collar slowly releases a small amount of oil out over time, so it’s constantly working to ensure the ingredients are being diffused on to the dog. The almond oil portion of the formula also acts as a skin conditioner.

But it’s geraniol, the main active ingredient, which does most of the work in repelling fleas in the Dr Mercola Herbal collar.

Geraniol is a plant oil that is extracted from several plants, including geraniums and lemongrass. Geraniol was found out only in 1999, after extensive scientific testing, that this ingredient is an excellent natural insect repellent.

The collar is rated to be able to repel fleas and other insects for up to 4 months maximum, as well as being waterproof. However, the exact amount of time it’s effective will also depend on environmental conditions and other factors; not everyone is seeing 4 months of protection with this collar, and some do need to replace it sooner than that.

The Dr Mercola herbal brand also has a topical spot-on solution which is safe to use alongside this collar for extra strength.

Grand Pets ProGuard+ Dog Flea and Tick Collar Review

This collar is currently (mid-2017) a new kid on the block. It’s given the name ProGuard+, which you may have seen on other flea products in the past. But this collar is made and sold by a new company called Grand Pets.

Marketed on the fact that the Grand Pets ProGuard+ collar uses the “same formula as the national leading brand”, but with a lower price tag.

This collar does indeed use the same active ingredients as you’ll find in the Seresto collar. These are:

• Flumethrin 4.5%
• Imidacloprid 10%

Somewhat misleading is the fact that the company states that the collar uses “natural ingredients” which technically isn’t true, as it uses the same insecticide ingredients as some other flea products. While these are often initially derived from natural sources, they are chemically synthesized and are not “natural” in the sense that true herbal extracts are, for example.

Now does that mean that this collar is exactly the same as the Seresto? Yes and no. While the active ingredients are indeed the same, at the same percentages, both brands have 85.5% of their formulas listed as “other ingredients”. Both brands do not disclose what these other ingredients are (as is standard across most flea products).

Essentially that means we can not be sure that the Grand Pets ProGuard+ is indeed exactly the same as Seresto. The main active ingredients are the same, however there may be differences in the other ingredients portion of both products. There can also be differences in the quality of the active ingredients themselves.

This is just something to keep in mind when you’re comparing the ProGuard+ with the more established Seresto collar. It doesn’t mean that the Grand Pets product is inferior; this is a new product and so far opinion is positive, and I will be keeping an eye on the direction this goes. As of now, it does seem a viable option for those on a lower budget. Many people, quite understandably, feel more comfortable sticking with well known brands like Bayer.

See the current price or find out more about the Grand Pets flea collar at Amazon

PetArmor FastCaps for Dogs

Benefits

Starts killing live fleas within 30 minutes of giving your dog a tablet. For dogs who are suffering from a flea infestation, this is one of the quickest ways to provide fast, immediate relief which will quickly have those live fleas dropping off your dog’s body.

The big benefit of a tablet is of course the lack of messy, odorous liquid that a lot of people aren’t enthused about getting on their hands. The tablet (and note that this is a tablet, not a capsule that you can open) does away with this issue completely as it’s a no mess form of flea control.

Downsides

These capsules only target the adult fleas.

So they are ideal for treating a current flea infestation where your main immediate goal is to rid your dog of irritating fleas on the body.

PetArmor FastCaps don’t treat the entire flea cycle, so you’ll still need to use another form of control to kill off the eggs and larvae.

The effect is short term, and it’s possible adult fleas will return to the dog within 48 hours, requiring another dose of the tablet.

Not everyone is confident in administering a capsule to dogs, and you’ll need to make sure it goes down properly.

Otherwise it can be hidden in food, provided you can confirm that the tablet has been consumed during eating. This is only a potential downside if you have a difficult dog or do not have confidence or experiencing in giving tablets.

See the current price of PetArmor Fastcaps for dogs at Amazon