Fleas are widespread among dogs. Accordingly, hardly any owner can avoid having to deal with the annoying parasites at some point.
There are several solutions available to control fleas. One of them is a special flea collar for dogs. Whether the use of such a flea collar makes sense and what alternatives there are, you will learn in the following article.
Fleas are so-called ectoparasites (skin parasites). The small insects reach a size between one and four millimetres and are known for their enormous jumping power.
Fleas feed on the dog's blood and reproduce in its fur. A female flea can lay around 50 eggs a day. Dogs can be infested with different types of fleas. In addition to the classic dog flea, this also includes the cat flea in particular.
The parasites cause very severe itching in affected four-legged friends and massive problems with the skin and coat, from redness to pustules to inflammation. Over time, the flea infestation can be so stressful for the dog that its general condition deteriorates significantly.
In addition, many dogs develop a so-called flea saliva allergy. Affected animals react allergically to certain protein compounds in the saliva of the parasites. This significantly intensifies the already very unpleasant symptoms of flea infestation.
A flea collar is a special product to protect dogs from fleas. As the name suggests, the flea collar is placed around the dog's neck. It remains there for a certain time to achieve the desired effect.
The gradual release of the active ingredients contained in the flea collar is intended to either kill the parasites, prevent them from reproducing or simply deter them. When buying a flea collar, make sure that it fits the weight and size of the dog.
It is not possible to say in general when a flea collar will start to work and for how long. While some flea collars take effect almost immediately, others can take a few days or even weeks.
The effect usually lasts for several months. For some flea collars for dogs, for example, the manufacturer states that the effect lasts up to four months, while others are said to be effective for six months or even longer. For exact information on the duration of effect, it is, therefore, necessary to read the information provided by the respective manufacturer.
Flea collars for dogs are available with many different active ingredients. In many cases, these are insecticides, such as imidacloprid or pyrethrins. However, there are also flea collars for dogs that use essential oils as active ingredients.
Sometimes even flea collars made of amber are offered. These are said to have a deterrent effect on fleas due to the static electricity generated by friction and the release of terpenes from the amber.
Flea collars for dogs have both advantages and disadvantages. Their biggest advantage is certainly that they can remain effective for quite a long time after they have been put on. For you as an owner, this means that using a flea collar as parasite protection for the dog does not involve any significant effort.
However, despite all the convenience, you should also keep in mind the disadvantages associated with flea collars. These include, among other things, the distinctly unpleasant odour that the bands emit, at least in part.
Apart from that, you should bear in mind that flea collars for dogs that rely on insecticides as the active ingredient can not only harm parasites such as fleas but also your four-legged friend in the long run.
Please note that a flea collar is no guarantee that your dog will be spared from a flea infestation. Depending on the active ingredient, the flea collar can significantly reduce the risk. However, complete protection is not possible.
Apart from that, you can assume that you cannot usually eliminate an already existing flea infestation on your dog simply by putting on a flea collar. This is because the bands are primarily for prophylaxis and are intended to prevent fleas from settling on your four-legged friend's body.
Depending on the active ingredient, flea collars also pose a certain risk for us humans. After all, despite the flea collar, you will hardly want to completely do without physical contact with your four-legged friend.
Of course, you will not ingest large quantities of an insecticide in the process. Nevertheless, you should be aware of this fact. This is especially true if you have children and are considering putting a flea collar on your dog as parasite protection.
Of course, there is no question that dog owners must consistently counteract fleas in their dogs. To support you in this, we have developed two natural alternatives to flea collars with Marsavet Tick & Flea Protection and Bellfor Vermin Health.
The Marsavet Tick & Flea Protection is a high-quality spot-on with natural ingredients. The chemical-free formula was developed in close collaboration with veterinarians to protect your four-legged friend from parasites such as fleas.
This is made possible by selected ingredients such as insect fat, coconut oil, and Aloe Vera. Give it a try. The spot-on is skin-friendly, easy to apply, and highly effective.
Order Marsavet Tick & Flea Protection >
Bellfor Vermin Health is a skin-friendly dog shampoo with a natural base.
The shampoo contains insect fat and margosa extract.
This also gives it a strong repellent effect on fleas and other skin parasites.
Bellfor Vermin Health is therefore ideal for helping to rid your dog of fleas.
At the same time, you can rely on a caring effect when using the shampoo and do not have to worry about chemical agents harming your dog.
Order Bellfor Vermin Health in the shop.
As you can see, the use of flea collars for dogs is not without risk. Depending on the active ingredients contained, the supposedly sensible parasite protection can also be a considerable burden on the dog's organism itself. To avoid this, we, therefore, recommend that you use natural alternatives to flea collars for your dog wherever possible. With Marsavet Tick & Flea Protection and Vermin Health Shampoo, you will find two well-tolerated products in our shop for this purpose.