What Is a Flea Collar for Dogs?
A flea collar for dogs is a plastic collar that contains active ingredients to kill or prevent fleas. Many also offer protection from ticks, lice, and other biting insects. Most flea collars contain insecticides to kill fleas, but some use natural ingredients, such as essential oils.
Flea collars are alternatives to other canine flea treatments, such as spot-on treatments or flea control tablets taken orally. It’s best to consult your veterinarian about the most effective flea preventatives for your dog.
In general, yes. If you choose a quality flea collar, it should get rid of fleas on your dog. However, some people find varied results. This can be due to a poor quality collar or because some fleas can become resistant to certain insecticides, so if your flea treatment doesn't work, try one with different active ingredients.
This varies between brands. Some work in just a couple of hours, whereas others can take a couple of weeks to work at full strength.
Flea collars are safe for most dogs, but some dogs can have bad reactions (which is the case with any flea treatment or many medications). The ingredients in some collars have been known to irritate the skin of some dogs, especially around the neck, or their eyes. Keep a close eye on your dog over the first couple of weeks of using a new flea collar to watch for skin reactions or other side effects.
Check your chosen brand of flea collar. Some can be used on puppies from six or eight weeks of age, whereas others are only suited to adult dogs.