Best Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs: Our Top Picks
Fleas are tiny insects that survive by biting mammals and sucking their blood. The most common flea seen in dogs and cats is the cat flea (C. felis). The cat flea is seen all over the world, but is most common in warm climates. Fleas live about 7 days and females lay an average of 25-30 eggs a day, totalling almost 180 eggs laid per female.
With flea eggs hatching in 2-3 days, that can mean that one flea can turn into a raging flea infestation in just a few days!
Fleas and ticks not only cause skin irritation and skin problems for dogs, they can also harbor harmful infectious diseases that can be transmitted to dogs and people alike. The only way to protect your dog and yourself from these issues is to use effective flea control on all pets in the household either in season or in warm climates, year round.
Flea collars are a convenient flea control method for pet parents for several reasons:
- They are easy to use
- They provide continual parasite protection over several weeks to months
- They tend to be cost effective, and they are less messy to apply than spot-on topical treatments
Most veterinarians consider flea collars to be best used as supplemental flea control in addition to prescription-strength flea and tick control to provide more continuous, broad spectrum parasite control.
As with any treatment or medication, it is best to talk to your veterinarian before using a flea collar on your dog, as some dogs may be sensitive to flea collars,some collars contain insecticides that are risky for cats or small children in the household, and not all dogs are good candidates for flea collars.
In this article, readers will learn what to look for in a flea collar and we will share a vet-approved list of the best flea and ticks collars for dogs with different needs.
Why You Need the Best Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs
Fleas and ticks aren’t just a nuisance: they cause irritation and skin problems for our pets, they can carry serious infectious diseases, and flea infestations can quickly spiral out of control.
Once fleas are established in an environment, they can be difficult to eradicate because:
- Fleas hide in cracks and crevices of floors and furniture as well as in rugs, carpets, and bedding
- Fleas reproduce very quickly
- Fleas can infest multiple pets in the house
- It can take weeks to months to eradicate an active flea infestation in the environment
- Not all flea products are effective against all life stages of fleas (egg, pupae, larvae, adult) which can allow fleas to develop and reproduce
- Fleas can hitch rides on other animals and re-infest the home even after the home has been treated
If that wasn’t enough, flea eggs can remain dormant for months until heat, vibration, or CO2 causes the eggs to hatch, surprising pet owners and causing unexpected big problems. When it comes to fleas and ticks, proactive prevention is easier and much more cost effective than trying to eliminate an infestation.
In addition to flea infestations being difficult and expensive, there are the health risks associated with fleas and ticks to consider:
- Fleas cause itching, skin allergies, skin infections, hair loss, and in severe cases, anemia. If a dog accidentally swallows a flea while grooming, the dog can then become infected with tapeworms.
- Ticks spread several diseases, such as Lyme disease, tick paralysis, plague, Ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
In general, a flea or tick must bite a dog to spread infectious disease, which is why it is important to eradicate fleas and ticks before they have a chance to bite your dog. For these reasons and more, it is always better to prevent fleas and ticks than deal with potentially negative outcomes associated with these external pests. When properly used, flea collars can offer continuous protection without needing to apply medication to your pet monthly.
What to Look for in the Best Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs
What makes a flea and tick collar for dogs effective and safe?
One of the best ways to know if a flea collar is safe and actually going to keep parasites off your dog is to ask your veterinarian for their opinion. In season, vets see dogs with fleas and ticks almost every day and they know what products work in your area and which ones do not.
Vets are also knowledgeable about the health of your dog, and will make individualized product recommendations that are best for your pet.
If you are searching for a flea collar on your own, here are additional things to consider:
- Flea Collar Effectiveness: Look for collars that are clinically proven to kill and/or repel fleas and ticks.
- Longevity: Some collars provide 8+ months of parasite protection, while others must be replaced every few weeks.
- Safety: Choose collars with vet-approved ingredients and avoid harsh pesticides, and read all labels before purchasing a flea collar and putting it on your dog.
- Some collars are not safe for puppies or households with small children or cats, so read the fine print and when in doubt, ask your vet.
- Water Resistance: Some collars lose effectiveness when wet, while others remain active. Other collars may still be effective but won’t last as long if they get wet.
- Additional Protection: Some collars also prevent lice, mosquitoes, and mites. Still other collars control fleas with an insect growth regulator that disrupts flea maturation.
If your dog has skin allergies or sensitive skin, it is best to ask your vet for a flea and tick control product recommendation to accidentally avoid causing irritation or itchiness to your dog. If you do choose to use a flea collar, it is recommended to closely monitor your dog for any skin reactions initially for a day or two after putting the collar on your dog.
The Best Flea and Tick Collars for Dogs
Seresto – Overall Best Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs
Key Features:
- Provides 8 months of continuous protection
- Starts killing fleas within 24 hours of putting the collar on your dog
- Repels and kills fleas, ticks, lice, and Scabies mites
- Odorless and non-greasy
- Water resistant and remains effective even when wet
Why It’s Great for Dogs:
- Long-lasting and highly effective against multiple pests including fleas, ticks, and lice
- Easy to use—no messy topical applications.
- Includes optional light reflectors on the collar to increase visibility and safety for your dog
- Contains a release mechanism that will break if your dog becomes trapped in the collar.
Things to Consider:
- Not recommended for puppies under 7 weeks old
- Seresto can interact with some medications resulting in negative health risks to dogs. Be sure to discuss all medications, vitamins, herbs, and supplements with your vet before using Seresto.
- If your dog is elderly, debilitated, breeding, pregnant or nursing talk to your veterinarian before using Seresto
- Replace the collar every 5 months on dogs that swim or bathe regularly
- Do not let the Seresto collar come into contact with your or your dog’s eyes or mouth and wash your hands after handling the collar
- Seresto may not kill any ticks that were on your dog before the collar was applied, so remove any ticks when you put the collar on your dog.
Vetality Protect Flea and Tick Collar – Best Budget Friendly Option
Key Features:
- Available without a prescription
- Utilizes Deltamethrin, an insecticide that kills fleas and ticks on contact or by ingestion, also effective against mosquitoes
- Low price point with 2 collars in a package equalling 12 months of flea and tick protection
Why It’s Great for Dogs:
- High quality, water-proof collar
- Kills up to 98% of ticks within 24 hours of application
- Kills fleas and ticks continuously for up to 6 months
Things to Consider:
- Safe for use in dogs that are 12 weeks of age and older.
- Deltamethrin is harmful to humans if swallowed or absorbed through the skin, do not let children play with this collar and avoid contact with skin, eyes, and clothing.
- Only effective against fleas and ticks, not effective against other external parasites
Seresto – Best for Puppies
Key Features:
- Safe for use in puppies 7 weeks of age and older
- Provides 8 months of continuous protection
- Starts killing fleas within 24 hours of putting the collar on your dog
- Repels and kills fleas, ticks, lice, and Scabies mites
- Odorless and non-greasy
- Water resistant and remains effective even when wet
Why It’s Great for Young Dogs:
- Long-lasting and highly effective against multiple external parasites including fleas, ticks, and lice
- Easy to use—no messy topical applications.
- Includes optional light reflectors on the collar to increase visibility and safety for your puppy
- Contains a release mechanism that will break if your puppy becomes trapped in the collar.
Things to Consider:
- Seresto can interact with some medications resulting in negative health risks to puppies. Be sure to discuss all medications, vitamins, herbs, and supplements with your vet before using Seresto.
- Replace the collar every 5 months on puppies that swim or bathe regularly
- Do not let the Seresto collar come into contact with your or your puppy’s eyes or mouth and wash your hands after handling the collar.
- Collar should not be removed until it is time to change the collar, therefore growing dogs need to be monitored and the collar loosened as they grow.
How We Chose the Best Flea and Tick Collars for Dogs
Flea collars were evaluated and chosen for this article based on several different factors, including:
- Proven effectiveness against fleas and ticks
- How fast the collar kills fleas and ticks
- Additional protection against other external parasites, such as mites or lice
- Additional flea control with insect growth regulators
- Longevity of the product (how long does it last)
- High safety ratings for pets and people
- Ease of use
- Recommended and used by veterinarians
Our Take on Flea and Tick Collars for Dogs
For some dogs, flea collars can be a great option for long-term flea and tick protection. They can be even more effective when combined with other flea control methods, such as regular home cleaning and vacuuming and regular grooming.
Flea collars tend to be easy to use and cost-effective. It is always best to ask your veterinarian what flea and tick collar or other external parasite protection is best for your dog and your area. When choosing a flea collar, the most important things to remember are to choose a collar that is best suited for your dog’s age, health, and environment.
Remember that fleas reproduce quickly, and one flea can turn into a raging flea infestation if you aren’t mindful. Fleas and ticks cause irritation to skin and carry infectious diseases that can impact both pets and humans. The best way to protect your dog and yourself is to use effective, year-round flea control that kills adult fleas fast and interrupts the flea life cycle. Flea control is most successful when a combination approach of treating all animals in the household and eradicating fleas from the home and yard is used at the same time. Keep fleas and ticks off your dog and out of your life with a safe, effective flea collar, and talk to your veterinarian for more tips to keep your dog and home flea and tick free.
