How should a dog wear a tick collar correctly?
A key condition for proper effectiveness is that the collar is fitted correctly. This means the collar should be tight enough. As a rule of thumb, you should be able to place 2 flat fingers between the collar and the skin. If the tick collar does not touch the skin, it will not release the active substances. This partly happens through friction between the collar and the skin. With long-haired animals, you should therefore ensure as much as possible that no hair remains between the collar and the skin.
Do all tick collars also work against fleas?
Whether a tick collar also works against fleas depends entirely on the active ingredients in the collar. Two commonly used collars are Seresto and the Adimere-Flea Collar. The Seresto collar is available for dogs and cats and is effective against fleas, ticks and lice. It also reduces the risk of a Leishmania infection transmitted by sandflies. The collar works for 7-8 months. The Adimere-Flea Collar repels sandflies, mosquitoes, fleas and ticks in dogs and works for 6 months.
When is it better not to choose a tick collar?
To avoid unnecessary environmental impact, it is advisable to choose a collar or another topical product only if you have a dog or cat that does not swim frequently. The effectiveness of a collar may decrease if it gets very wet. In addition, some of the active substance may enter the environment, which can affect organisms living there. A collar is also not recommended if your dog or cat sleeps in your bed or frequently lies close to your children. Through prolonged contact with your pet’s skin and coat, some of the active substance may transfer to people, which is generally undesirable.
Does a tick collar have side effects?
Because the active substance in the collar is usually not absorbed into the body to any significant extent, there are few systemic side effects. However, a collar can cause a skin reaction, especially where it sits. Symptoms may include itching, redness and hair loss. These side effects are generally rare and usually disappear once you remove the collar. They often resolve even if you do not remove it. It is rarely necessary to consult your vet about these symptoms. In the case of severe symptoms, it is advisable to report them to the manufacturer.
What types of tick collars are available?
As mentioned earlier, there are different types of collars. Below you will find an overview.
Tick collars
There are collars that are only registered as effective against ticks and mosquitoes or sandflies. These collars often also have an effect against fleas, but if this has not been tested, this may not be stated in the package leaflet. Genuine tick collars are often only suitable for dogs due to the active ingredient, namely Deltamethrin or other pyrethroids, which are highly toxic to cats. These collars often have both a repellent and killing effect on ticks.
Flea and tick collars
In addition to dedicated tick collars, there are collars that are effective against both fleas and ticks. These collars are sometimes also suitable for cats. This applies, for example, to Seresto Cat. These collars often have both a repellent and killing effect on fleas and ticks and also work against the larval stages, reducing the risk of a flea infestation.
Natural tick collars
In addition to collars containing chemical substances that kill ticks and fleas, there are also natural products with a repellent effect against ticks and fleas. These may include collars containing a substance such as dimethicone, such as the Knock Off Flea and Tick Collar. This collar is available in a variant for dogs and cats and works for 4 months. Dimethicone is a natural substance that immobilises fleas and ticks, causing them to dry out and die.
In addition to collars with dimethicone, there are also collars with plant extracts that have a repellent effect, as well as so-called ceramic tick collars with EM-XTM beads. These are said to improve an animal’s resistance, providing natural protection especially against ticks. The beads are said to contain bacteria and to emit resonance. Most alternative collars are only suitable for dogs.
Because most natural products primarily have a repellent effect, it is difficult to predict in advance how effective they will be for your pet. Especially if you live in an area with many ticks, repellent products alone may not be sufficiently effective. You should therefore assess for each individual animal which treatment is most suitable against ticks.
Do you still have questions about tick collars? Or would you like to know what other options are available to protect your pet against ticks? Please contact veterinarian@vetsend.co.uk.
