Does a flea collar help against fleas for dogs and puppies: at what age should it be worn?

Small blood-sucking insects (fleas, ticks) are carriers of infectious diseases and pose a serious threat to the life and health of the dog.

There are many ways to get rid of this scourge (tablets, solutions, injections, etc.), the main thing is to choose the most effective, safe option. One of the effective methods of combating bloodsuckers is a flea collar. It does not cause allergic itching in the dog, has no odor, and is easy and convenient to use. You just need to put it on your pet’s neck and you can go for a walk.

How it works

A flea collar for dogs is a preventative device.

It should be put on your pet before he is attacked by blood-sucking insects. If fleas are found on a dog, they are ineffective. Therefore, opinions on the need to use the product are very contradictory. To understand how productive and safe this method is, you need to understand the principle of operation of a flea collar.

The collar is a ribbon product made of flexible plastic material, equipped with a buckle. Some models are impregnated with special highly toxic chemicals and therefore have a characteristic odor. After putting a protective collar on your dog, you need to wait for it to take effect. During this time, insecticidal and repellent substances are gradually released from it, enveloping the animal’s fur and skin. The toxic components are poisonous to fleas, but have a low toxic effect on the dog and remain on the pet the entire time it is worn.

Within a day, a flea is able to examine the entire body of a four-legged pet.

Having reached the collar attachment, she will inevitably encounter active substances that will either scare her away or destroy her. It is recommended to wear the collar all the time when there is a danger of the animal being infected by parasites, and not to remove it during bathing. It is believed that the repellent properties of one product last from 2 to 7 months.

There are several types of flea collars:

Chemical, impregnated with a substance that repels bloodsuckers. It is usually used for dogs older than six months, since chemical reagents can poison the puppy. Some dogs have an allergic reaction to the components of the impregnation. Therefore, after putting on the accessory, you should monitor your pet’s condition for 24 hours. If unusual behavior appears in the dog, the collar must be removed and the animal must be given antihistamines.
The biological collar has repellent properties for fleas and ticks. The products are impregnated with a concentrate of medicinal herbs and essential oils. Since they are harmless to animals, they can be used for whelping, lactating individuals, and small puppies.
The ultrasonic version is equipped with a special sensor that emits a signal that repels insects. There are no chemicals inside the collar, so it has no odor, proving itself to be an absolutely safe product. However, some breeders consider it ineffective.

Based on the variety of protective accessories, some owners find it quite difficult to make their choice. When choosing the appropriate option, you should focus not only on the age of the pet, but also its physiological characteristics.

What is a Chihuahua?

The Chihuahua is a miniature lap dog, its size is no more than 3 kg. If more than three, then the dog has serious deviations from the breed standard. They are very fragile and delicate, even a fall from a small height can cause serious injury. However, the small size and fragile body do not prevent the dog from being brave.

If they don’t like someone, they won’t notice that the opponent is many times larger than her. Although for Chihuahuas such outbursts of courage often end in tears. At a young age, these dogs are cowardly, and can even wet themselves from fear; some Chihuahuas may have this property even in adulthood.

Also, dogs of this breed are famous for their devotion to one person. They love and respect their owner very much, but if he suddenly decides to spend time with another pet, in front of the little chi, she will be offended and go to her house. These dogs do not require more than necessary care.

It is enough to carry out basic procedures regularly.

Does it help?

When choosing between models with different principles of operation, many owners wonder which option is better, does a flea collar help dogs?

Since insects often die only after they bite, there remains the possibility of transmitting a dangerous infection to the dog. However, thanks to modern developments, the repellents with which protective products are impregnated not only kill bloodsuckers, but also repel them with a pungent odor. This reduces the risk of getting bitten. It should be understood that as the effectiveness of the toxins decreases, the effectiveness of the tape decreases and fleas can again attack the animal. Therefore, you should change the strap in a timely manner, in accordance with its expiration date.

Side effects and disadvantages

possible allergic reactions;
the likelihood of a decrease in the dog’s sense of smell;
if the tape is not protected by a waterproof shell, the products are not suitable for hunting dogs and pets that like to swim in bodies of water;
the composition with which the base is impregnated is distributed unevenly - there will be no parasites in the area of the neck, head and chest, but they can settle on the back of the back;
the products only prevent parasites from settling on the dog’s body, but are not able to get rid of larvae and eggs, and they also do not protect against bites - therefore, the possibility of transmitting the disease through insect saliva remains;
low effectiveness for long-haired breeds - the plastic tape must pass under the dog’s fur and come into contact with the skin, otherwise the effectiveness is reduced.

Which is better

To choose the most effective, safe flea collar for dogs, you should study in detail the principle of operation of the product and read reviews about different models. At the same time, do not forget about the characteristics of the breed, age, and health status of the pet. The size of the accessory is also of great importance; it should not be too tight or loose.

Depending on the concentration of toxins, a particular flea collar may have different effects on your dog.

Therefore, sometimes even high-quality models can worsen the health of a pet. You should pay attention to products from well-known manufacturers, about which there are only positive reviews.

Veterinarians recommend using collars from the following well-known manufacturers:

Kiltix. The effect of the neutralizing components begins one day after the collar is put on the dog. The effectiveness of protective lena lasts for six months. Suitable for healthy adults, not recommended for pregnant women, recently whelped bitches and sick, small dogs. In this case, it is recommended to use other flea treatments for puppies;
Hartz UltraGuard Flea & Tick Collar. Veterinarians recommend using models for puppies older than 6 months. The tape smells pleasant, is equipped with an LED strip, and begins its effect immediately after being put on the animal. The period of permissible use is 8 months.
"SCALIBOR". The collar is valid for 6 months. The maximum effect occurs a week after starting use.
Beaphar Ungezieferband. The duration of action begins 5 days after the start of use. Maximum service life is 5 months. Suitable only for healthy adults.
Rolf Club. The collar is non-toxic and odorless. It is not recommended to use in combination with other methods of controlling blood-sucking insects. Validity period – up to 4 months.

Using a flea collar - pros and cons

One of the advantages of a flea collar is its availability and a wide range of brands. The main thing is to choose the appropriate device. For example, chemical collars can further harm a dog’s health.

The collar is easy to use. It works immediately as soon as you put it on. You can take it off at home and put it back on for a walk. If your pet spends all his time outside, the collar will constantly repel parasites.
The collars do not require additional manipulations and are ready for use.
They do not create discomfort for the pet and do not interfere with their normal lifestyle.

And yet, you should choose protection against dog fleas with special care, having previously studied reviews about the company - src=»https://stopvreditel.ru/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/kak-vygljadit-antibloshinyj-oshejnik.jpg» class=”aligncenter” width=”360″ height=”224″[/img]

Cheap collars can often be of completely poor quality and can poison your pet.
The possibility of an allergic reaction in a pet to substances in the composition, regardless of the brand of collar, cannot be ruled out.
If the collar is not worn correctly, contact dermatitis may occur.
The dog can chew the tip of the collar and become poisoned. Therefore, take care in advance to find out the antidote and help your pet in time.

How to use it correctly

Many owners, when purchasing a flea protection device, are wondering how to put a flea collar on a dog?

If the accessory is used incorrectly, the result may be negative. Before use, the product should be stretched slightly so that when put on, the gap between it and the animal’s neck is 1.5 to 2 cm. If the strap is large, the excess piece must be cut off to prevent the dog from licking off the toxic substance. Before you put a collar on your dog, you need to wash it thoroughly to prevent the growth of parasites in the tail.

A puppy can wear a flea collar from 4 months. Since there is a high risk of the puppy being poisoned by poisons, this should be done with extreme caution. It is advisable to use bio-collars for small pets.

Common mistakes of novice owners

Improper training or use of the collar can lead to the following problems:

The puppy will break out of the collar - it will have to be fastened tighter or replaced with a harness.
The puppy will resist, resist, or refuse to walk on the leash.
The puppy will be afraid of the collar and avoid putting it on in every possible way.

Frequent mistakes made by owners lead to the above problems:

Rough handling of the puppy, sudden pulling away with the help of a collar.
Physical punishment using ammunition.
Starting training with a collar without a preliminary, gentle training procedure.
Irregular use of the collar.
Using a collar on a regular basis.

With proper training, the puppy considers the collar to be his property, treats it with care and even protects it. Always sincerely and vigorously praise the dog for calmly letting you put on the collar. To help your baby adapt and get used to the new accessory, even if you remove the collar, place it near your pet’s resting place.

Question answer

When an owner chooses parasite protection for his pet, he is faced with many questions:

Which collar is best for small breeds? You need to choose flea tape according to the size of the animal, while maintaining the required concentration of toxic substances. The strap should not squeeze your neck or dangle around it.
At what age can puppies wear a protective accessory? Since small animals are vulnerable to the effects of poisons, it is recommended that a flea collar be used on puppies from 4 weeks of age.
How long does the active flea agent last on the strap? The duration of action of toxins impregnating the straps depends on the manufacturer, as well as on the individual characteristics of the animal. Most often, the effectiveness of protective tapes lasts from 2 to 7 months.

Whatever flea collar you choose for your dog, you must first take into account the age, condition, and size of the animal.

A properly selected accessory can permanently rid your pet of intrusive parasites.

Examples of collars

To make your choice of flea accessory easier, we offer several options from popular brands.

Kiltix

Cute collars are at their most effective 24 hours after being worn.
This is the optimal choice for adult and healthy dogs. Their validity period lasts up to seven months. Price - from 800 rubles.

Customer Feedback:

Expensive collar. The smell is somewhat reminiscent of mint. It is stated that it also protects against ticks, but after a month its effect ended. Ticks have appeared. The veterinary clinic said that the collar should not be wetted. What should we do if we walk through dew in the morning? It will still get wet. In general, I recommend it for fleas, but not for ticks.

Hartz

The collar protects against fleas for seven months. You can choose an accessory with a reflective strip. The collar is moisture resistant and works immediately after putting it on. There is a collar option that even protects against flea larvae. Contraindicated for puppies under 6 months.

Price - from 600 rubles.

Customer Feedback:

When the dog brought fleas home, we immediately ran to get a collar. We chose Hartz because we heard good reviews from friends. And his price was more reasonable. I will note a specific smell, but only at the beginning of use. Satisfied. The material is soft and does not cause any discomfort to the dog. We only wear it while walking.

Scalibor

Collars from a French manufacturer. They contain deltamethrin, which is an analogue of pyrethrins found in some plants. Therefore, collars of this brand are suitable for pregnant and lactating dogs. Puppies under seven months are contraindicated. Protects not only from fleas, but also from other insects, including flying ones, for up to 6 months.

Price - from 800 rubles.

Customer Feedback:

This is not the first time a friend buys this collar. She said that although it is expensive, it is effective and does not cause allergies. I bought it for my dog. We spent the entire season and were very pleased. I don't even want to try other brands.

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Precautions

An incorrectly selected product can, at best, not bring the expected result, and at worst, cause harm to the dog’s health.

To avoid troubles for your beloved pet, remember these simple precautions and be sure to take them into account when choosing a collar.

The product for cats is not suitable for dogs.
A product designed for small dogs will not have any effect on larger ones; the result will tend to zero.
A product for large breeds may harm a small breed.
For a puppy under 2 months old, a collar is not recommended at all, nor are drops.
For babies after 2 months, lactating and pregnant bitches, sick dogs and dogs of old age, only products based on biological composition are suitable.

Important! If there is a suspicion that the dog’s condition has worsened, it is better to have him have a preliminary examination by a veterinarian.

Traditional methods

They were mentioned a little earlier, as they are applicable for newborn babies. Traditional methods are based on the use of herbs. That is why they are so harmless for newly born puppies.

If the mother and offspring are in an enclosure or in a room separate from human habitation, then it would be good to place bunches of herbs such as wormwood, lavender, and bugs around the bed. They have a pungent odor that will repel nasty insects. For the convenience of animals, the bunches can be replaced with powder from the same plants. Herbs are safe even for babies, who may accidentally get the herb inside.

If animals live in the house, then the litter and the surrounding area should be treated with water with the addition of a couple of drops of essential oil of the same lavender, lemon, menthol or eucalyptus. This method also has a deodorizing and antimicrobial effect.

Do not forget about baths using herbs that have a pungent and repellent odor.