Flea and tick collars are devices used to protect pets from fleas and ticks. They are designed to deliver enough pesticide to continually kill external parasites for several months. The fleas found on dogs (Ctenocephalides canis) live off the blood of their host, and the adult female flea lays eggs that turn into larvae. The larvae go through an intermediate stage before entering adulthood and in their normal lifespan, which is approximately nine months, two adult fleas can produce over a million offspring. In the process of reproduction, fleas cause painful annoyance to dogs, making dogs scratch and bite themselves most of the time. That makes their coat roughened and irritates their skin, and can lead to severe flea allergies. Controlling these pests is a very important task for every dog owner, and flea collars offer long-lasting performance.
A flea and tick collar is a plastic strip made by mixing an insecticide with plastic resins and molding the mixture into a thin strip. That way it ensures effective protection against parasitic infestations, killing fleas and ticks without being toxic to dogs. Most commonly, collars are made slightly longer, allowing you to cut the flea collar and make it fit perfectly to your dog.
How Do They Work?
The latest developments in collar designs have introduced eight months lasting collars that treat parasites and prevent infestations. Flea and tick collars serve two basic functions – repelling and treating. Some collars are made for only one of the above purposes, while others can act as both a repellent and treatment.
The repelling type emits a gas that repels pests, but a pest must bite the dog first, for the insecticide to kill them. The treating type of flea collars, on the other hand, contains active ingredients that diffuse onto the fat layer on your dog’s skin and spread using its natural skin oils. That way it kills fleas and ticks present at the dog’s body, as well as flea larvae in its surroundings.
Once you get a flea collar for your dog, it’s good to know that it releases the chemical on its skin or fur slowly, not at once, which helps to kill the fleas successfully. If you have a baby dog, then you can find a proper flea collar, specially designed for small dogs and puppies, providing the same level of protection. The duration of the collar will depend mainly on the condition of your dog and taking proper care of it, as instructed on the product. Most flea and tick collars are water resistant, but if you give your dog a bath more frequently, or if it swims often, then it may reduce the longevity of the product.
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Why Proper Fitting is Important?
To achieve the best results from the collar use, it must be fitted properly. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and avoid improper fit of the collar that may cause some intrusion for your dog while eating or chewing. Fit it properly so it’s snug, but not tight. If your dog is in a growing age, it’s a good idea to check the collar’s fit on regular basis and replace it if necessary.
Advantages of Flea and Tick Collars for Dog Owners
Flea and tick collars offer many advantages to fit modern lifestyles and make taking care of your dog an easier and more enjoyable experience.
Money Saving – Purchasing a dog flea collar is a well worth investment as it provides protection for several months and if properly taken care of, you won’t have to replace it in the meantime.
Simple and Easy to Use – The application of dog’s flea and tick collars is very simple and easy, the collar can be attached within a minute, similar to an ID collar.
Peace of Mind – The collar is non-greasy and odour free, and once attached to your dog, the active ingredients remain locked within the collar matrix and released when they come into contact with the dog’s skin and coat. For maximum results, your dog needs to wear it continuously for up to eight months.
Benefits of Flea and Tick Collars for Dogs
Always Ready for Adventure – Regardless of the season, with the collar on, your furry friend is protected through summer and winter. Now he can be part of your summer travel, hiking, water activities and more. The only thing to keep in mind is that intense exposure to water can reduce the duration of the collar’s activity, as mentioned earlier.
Tips for Using Dog Collar for Ticks and Fleas Right
When choosing tick and flea collar for dogs, it’s best to buy from reputable sources and look for a collar with carefully selected insecticide composition. It’s important that the insecticide effectively kills fleas and ticks, without being toxic to dogs. Also, it needs to be effective under various environmental conditions, free from strong taste or odour and non-staining to fur and surfaces that your dog may get in touch with, such as carpets, furniture etc.
Furthermore, once the collar is attached to your dog, make sure to keep an eye for any adverse reactions. Every canine is unique, and some chemicals can potentially bother your dog, even though they were not supposed to. That’s why it’s recommendable to monitor your dog closely and look for signs of lethargy, sickness, hair loss, redness of the skin, bad scratching and more. Most symptoms become visible within 12 to 48 hours.
If you’re taking your dog to a place with high chances of a flea infestation, then make sure it’s wearing the collar. In case of removing the collar, it’s important to keep it in an airtight bag, in order to preserve it properly, so it can give good results next time your dog will be wearing it.
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