What to Look for in a Flea Collar

One of the most important things to consider when looking at flea collars is your dog’s size. Your pup should not be able to reach down and gnaw on her flea collar since ingesting the toxins inside can be dangerous for her health.

Flea collars are designed to be safe for a dog’s skin, but not necessarily her digestive system. Try to find a flea collar that is not big enough for your dog to reach, but not so small that it irritates the skin around her neck.

One of the best things about flea collars is that they can last for months, unlike most topical medications. Using a flea collar may be more convenient to some people that remembering to apply an ointment every thirty days. Make sure that you don’t use the collar longer than advised by the manufacturer or it could lose its effectiveness.

Safety Precautions

All flea collars use toxic chemicals, or insecticides, to get rid of fleas. In small enough doses, these insecticides are safe for your pooch but deadly to those pesky fleas. Always check the active ingredients in your dog’s flea collar since some of these chemicals are safer or more effective than others.

Deltamethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid, is one of the safest insecticides out there. It has minimal effects on both humans and our furry friends, but it’s not the only acceptable choice.

Pyriproxifen is another safe insecticide that targets eggs and larvae instead of adult fleas. It makes them unable to reproduce, so they die within a generation. Propoxur destroys the nervous system of fleas to kill them, but is dangerous for humans. A collar containing propoxur should be handled with care.

Tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP) should be avoided whenever possible. Although it does kill fleas, it is harmful to both you and your pets. TCVP is also a human carcinogen. Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of TCVP. Some collars still use this insecticide, but there are plenty on the market that use safer chemicals.

A high quality, comfortable flea collar can be a lifesaver for both you and you dog. Your pup won’t be in pain, and you won’t have to worry about fleas getting tracked into your house. Flea collars are a safe, effective preventative measure in both the long and short term.

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