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Best Flea Collars For Dogs

Angela Vuckovic
by Angela Vuckovic
Published:  October 2nd, 2021

Flea collars for dogs are a hassle-free solution to bloodsucking parasites that attack our pets. Killing fleas (and many other insects) on contact, they will prevent potential infestation and keep your pet free of pesky pests.

When fleas are considered, there isn’t “that time of the year” to keep an eye out for. They are a threat that is always present, and if left untreated, these pesky parasites quickly spread everywhere. When that happens, rooting them out can be quite a challenge. However, thanks to various flea repellent products and treatments, you can prevent these bloodsuckers from becoming a real nuisance. Flea collars for dogs are a great option for the prevention and treatment of flea infestations. Seemingly a simple design, dog flea collars are a highly effective solution that kills fleas on contact and works well with other products that are designed for the house and the yard to fully eradicate the pests from your pet’s life.

Flea collars for dogs are also very effective against all the other creepy crawlies. They kill ticks, larvae, lice, and sarcoptic mange, which are all equally as nasty as fleas. With a reliable dog flea collar you can keep all of these issues at bay, and ensure your dog is healthy and happy throughout the year. Of course, choosing the ideal flea repellent collar can be a challenge since there are so many of them out there. That’s why we’ve gathered the 10 best flea collars for dogs on the market today. Learn about their pros and cons, and make your dog critter-free!

1. Editor’s Choice: Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Repellent Collar for Dogs

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You don’t need to reach for harsh chemicals to keep your pupper protected from the bites of nasty bloodsuckers! Sometimes, all it takes to put an end to fleas and ticks is a clever formula based on natural ingredients. Made in the USA with US and globally sourced ingredients, this flea collar relies on certified natural steam distilled essential oils such as cedarwood and peppermint oil, both of which are known to have potent pest fighting properties. The concentration of the active ingredients is not only pet-safe but also long-lasting: this flea and tick repellent collar promises to keep your pet free of critters for up to 4 months. To boot, it is made from PVC and phthalate-free material that is water-resistant and durable. Suited for dogs and puppies over 4 months of age, this collar can be adjusted for a perfect fit, but the maximum it will fit is a neck with a diameter of up to 20”.

2. Runner up: Adams Flea & Tick Collar 2-Pack

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Fleas beware! Adams Flea & Tick Collar is a reliable solution that saves all the doggos from itching and biting tiny pests. This great flea and tick repellent collar is a proven remedy. Thanks to the active ingredient Deltamethrin and the other flea-killing agents in the formula, this collar is highly effective against critters, mosquitoes included. The effect of the collar lasts for up to 6 months. One great aspect of this collar is the fact that it works in unison with the other products in Adams’ flea repellent range. This means that you can easily rid your yard, home, and your pet of pesky fleas and ticks. The collar is also designed in a way that one size fits every breed. With a simple adjustment system, fitting takes just a few seconds! Of course, being totally waterproof, it will still continue to repel fleas after being soaked in water. And with this nifty 2-pack, your dog can be protected for a whole year!

3. Customer’s Choice: Fleebs Dog Flea Collar

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A natural solution is sometimes the best. Flea repellent collars don’t always have to rely on complex anti-bug chemical ingredients to chase away the tiny bloodsuckers bothering your dog. Fleebs Dog Flea Collar is a great example- it relies on natural ingredients – essential oils! It boasts citronella, peppermint, and clove essential oils, which are perfectly blended to offer the most potent effect against fleas and ticks. The natural ingredients make this collar safe even for puppies! It is made from sturdy polyethylene and boasts a “one size fits all” design. Simply adjust, cut off the excess, and you are good to go! Of course, this design is also totally waterproof, making summer dips and quick showers possible. Fleebs’ collar offers a fantastic 8 months of active protection giving you and your dog the peace of mind you needed.

4. Best on a Budget: Hartz Ultra Guard Collar

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Ticks and fleas can be a year-round problem for our dogs. And often enough, reliable remedies are hard to find without breaking the budget. Hartz Ultra Guard Collar, however, is an affordable alternative that actually works well. Thanks to the active ingredient Tetrachlorvinphos, this collar kills fleas and tick through contact – with certainty. It also offers 7 months of active protection, which makes it ideal for the middle part of the year when these mini critters are at their highest activity. Contrary to some cheap collars, this one boasts a fresh and invigorating scent – which won’t make it repulsive to your dog. It is also fully waterproof, so even if your doggo decides to take a dip, the collar’s effects will remain active. With a simple adjustment system, this collar can fit dogs with necks that measure up to 20” in diameter, which is great for most dog breeds. With a great balance of price and quality and a nearly whole year of protection, this collar is a great solution for fleas.

5. Best Natural: Pets vv Natural Flea Collar 2-pack

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It’s great to go natural whenever you can! It’s eco-friendly, safe, and still super effective. This great flea repellent collar boasts all-natural ingredients – it is formulated with 100% non-toxic essential oils that are blended in order to provide the best protection and a lasting effect. And that effect is active for 8 months! This design utilizes a unique slow-release technology, killing all critters quickly through contact. It is ideal not only against fleas, but also ticks, lice, mites, and mosquitos. Odorless and non-greasy, Pets vv 2 Pack Natural Flea and Tick Collar is also fully waterproof, providing great protection even when submerged in water. With simple and easy-to-use straps, this collar is adjusted to fit any dog breed. It also sports an emergency breaking point in case you need to take it off swiftly. And this being a 2 pack offer means that you can keep your pet protected for 16 months in total!

6. Best American-Made: TevraPet Activate II Flea Collar for Dogs

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Texas-made, the Activate II collar from TevraPet is one of the few collars that is proudly made in the USA. This collar is effective against fleas, ticks, and their eggs as well and kills the pests on contact. The protection lasts for 6 months, which means that a pack of 2 can keep your pet safe through the whole year. With active ingredients, Deltamethrin and Pyriproxyfen, both very powerful remedies against fleas, this collar is super efficient at its job. Great for dogs with neck sizes of up to 24”, TevraPet Activate II Flea Collar for Dogs is a fantastic choice for most dog breeds and is easily adjusted with a simple and efficient system. Also, as it is fully waterproof, you don’t have to worry about it getting wet. The collar leaves no residue and is not oily, and has a strong soapy scent that dissipates after just a few days. It is a great solution for the whole year!

7. Best for Sensitive Skin: Natural Care Repellent Flea Collar

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No one likes their dog to be wearing items with potentially harmful ingredients and materials, particularly if they have sensitive skin that’s easy to irritate. Luckily, Natural Care Repellent Flea Collar relies only on proven natural ingredients and is totally phthalate and PVC-free. With botanical and essential cedarwood, peppermint, and almond oil, as well as Zinc Stearate, the collar offers a non-toxic and eco-friendly solution against all the creepy crawlers. Comfortable and durable, it offers 4 months of active protection and is good for dogs and puppies 4 months and older. One size fits all design makes it a suitable solution for all dog breeds. The collar does not leave an oily residue and has a pleasant smell, and it is also 100% water-resistant. However, you should keep in mind that it has a relatively short protection time, at just 4 months, so it’s best to get a few in one go!

8. Best for Large Dogs: Parenda Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs

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A conventional flea repellent collar sometimes isn’t a good fit for the largest of doggos- because the size doesn’t fit them. Parenda Flea and Tick Collar for Large Dogs an ideal fit for even the biggest of good boys, thanks to its easy-fit design. It is also a collar that boasts all-natural ingredients, like the active one – citronella oil! Odorless and super-efficient, it offers 8-month protection and it doesn’t leave behind any oily residue. Another smart feature that is included is 3 special reflectors that increase visibility. This is great for night walks and keeping your dog safe and easily spotted in the dark. Included in this package are also 2 nifty little tools for removing ticks – just in case some happen to cling on. It is hypoallergenic and super comfy to wear, and, being waterproof, it won’t lose its effects once wet.

9. Best for Year-Round Use: MONIPGU Natural Flea Collar

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Fleas are not simply seasonal pests. They can appear all throughout the year – and that can become a huge issue if you are not prepared. Flea collars that come in a 2-pack offer are often an ideal solution to always keep your dog protected. A single MONIPGU Natural Flea Collar lasts for 8 months, which makes a 2 pack a great year-through remedy. Made with pure essential oils, it is a natural and hypoallergenic solution that is great for dogs with sensitive skin and allergies. This repellent collar is great against fleas and their larvae, as well as lice, ticks, and sarcoptic mange. It also boasts a great adjustment system that only takes moments to set up and can fit all dogs. Another great feature is an emergency breaking point, which protects your dog’s neck if they pull extremely strongly on the collar. That’s some great thinking!

10. Best with Essential Oils: Sealuxe Flea & Tick Dog Collar

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Sometimes, essential oils can be equally as good as modern flea repellent medications. Sealuxe Flea & Tick Dog Collar contains garlic, lemongrass, neem, cedarwood, and rosemary oils, potent natural insecticides which are blended in a perfect ratio to quickly repel fleas and ticks. This also makes it hypoallergenic and will cause no irritation on your pet’s neck. This collar offers 8 months of active protection and is totally waterproof. One thing to keep in mind is the collar’s strong smell – which, thanks to the essential oils, is not unpleasant. It dissipates in just a few days, leaving your dog with a great remedy with no smells, and no oily residues. Special ridges on the inside help you to easily adjust the size of the collar, and make it a no-hassle setup!

What to Look For in Flea Collars for Dogs?

There are several key things that you need to keep your eye on when choosing a collar. A design that has the perfect balance between these aspects is the one to go for!

Active ingredients

Paying attention to the ingredients contained in a flea collar can be the most important part. It is crucial that the ingredients are either veterinary-approved or totally natural. Otherwise, you risk irritation, allergies, lack of effects, and smelly, oily collars. Some brands offer natural ingredients such as essential oils, while others rely on powerful medications that are proven to work against fleas.

Size

Finding the right size for your dog is also crucial. Just like any other collar, this one too can be too tight and cause chafing and irritation. If it doesn’t fit, it can also snap quite easily. Look out for easily adjustable collars with a “one size fits all” design. That way you can make the ideal fit for your dog.

Longevity

Flea collars for dogs are meant to have a lasting effect that remains active for a certain period of time. This is great for the hottest season of the year when this issue is most prevalent. Choose a collar that helps you cover most of the year. Some offer as little as 4 months of active effects, while some offer double that. This means that with just two collars, you can keep your dog protected throughout the whole year.

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Angela Vuckovic
Angela Vuckovic

A proud mama to seven dogs and ten cats, Angela spends her days writing for her fellow pet parents and pampering her furballs, all of whom are rescues. When she's not gushing over her adorable cats or playing with her dogs, she can be found curled up with a good fantasy book.

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Pet parents pay big bucks to communicate better with their best buddies.

Latest Studies Find That Aging in Dogs Can Mirror Aging in Humans

In the United States alone, pet owners spend around $1,500 a year on  veterinary care. To be precise, people tend to spend more on dogs than on any other pets – up to 41% of Americans spend $2,000 per year caring about their cherished canine friends. Of course, this is all in the hopes that their pet reaches their senior age with minimal issues and that they get to spend as many years enjoying their company. While providing veterinary care is an important factor that contributes to a pet’s longevity, it’s not always easy to determine when a certain procedure or treatment will help prolong your pet’s life and not their suffering. By comparing the concept they labeled “frailty” in humans and in dogs, a team of researchers hopes that they can help owners make better decisions about their pet’s care.Scientists behind the “ Dog Aging Project” are studying how they could improve your dog’s quality of life for many years to come. The team from the University of Washington is conducting extensive research, based on dogs of all ages, in their attempts to determine how their quality of life is impacted as they age. Dr. Anya Gambino, one of the chief veterinarians working on the project, says: “There's a quantity of life. It's amazing to have a long life, but you always want to have quality of life." The team’s UW Biologist and the Co-Director of the Project, Daniel Promislow, quickly drew a parallel with humans. "Dogs get the same kinds of diseases that humans get. They also show the same kinds of frailty that we see in humans," he said.The so-called “frailty” of dogs, which is the object of the study, is already studied in humans. Dr. Promislow firmly believes that through this study, researchers can gain a much better understanding of life expectancies in dogs and potential disease risks as well. "We hope we'll be able to figure out the relationship between frailty and the disease," Promislow says. But what exactly is this “frailty”? Researchers describe it as "a complex syndrome associated with aging. Because it considers physical, mental and emotional changes associated with aging, it is a better indicator of the body’s condition and overall health than age alone.""If we can do that, we can help vets treat dogs earlier before those diseases are apparent and can also help dogs enjoy their later years to the best degree possible," said Promislow.The study is on a very grand scale and already enrolls over 46,000 dogs across the United States. What is best, researchers believe that humans can also benefit from this extensive study. "The other thing about aging in dogs is that aging in dogs looks a lot like aging in people," said Promislow. "What we learn about aging in dogs is going to help us learn about aging in people, as well."Hopefully, this would mean that many more dogs would get a chance to enjoy their golden years, right by their owner's side. "They provide us with so much unconditional love, joy, and humor," said Dr. Gambino. "We can do something for them that gives them the best chance for living a very happy life with us."

UK Wildlife Park Rehabilitates Potty-Mouthed Parrots

The struggle is real! Profanity-laced parrots may turn park's aviary into an adult-only zone.

Hypothermia in Cats: What You Should Know

Hypothermia puts your cat’s health at risk, and if not treated in time, can be fatal. So, it’s wise to know even just the basics about hypothermia so you can recognize the symptoms and get your cat the help they need right away. Here’s a short guide to get you started.

Pet Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

The holiday season is here, and you’re probably excited about everything that this festive time of year has to offer. But even though you might be focused on being with the people you love, eating delicious food, and sharing gifts, it’s important to also consider the effects the holidays can have on your pets.To help you enjoy a safe and happy holiday season with your furbabies, here’s a list of holiday safety tips for pets.

Felix Cat Insurance Will Pay Your Engagement Ring – On One Condition

If you're ready to tie the knot, you should know that there’s a way to make this special occasion even more memorable – by including your furball in the proposal. Not only is it an adorable way to ask for someone’s hand in  marriage, but thanks to Felix Cat Insurance, it can also be a way to get a gorgeous ring for free! This company is launching “A Purr-fect Proposal” campaign, aiming to help one couple of cat lovers celebrate that special moment in their lives. The aim of the campaign is to cover the costs of an engagement ring and the only requirement is to include your cat in the proposal!December is truly a magical month, so it doesn’t surprise that it’s also the most popular month to get engaged – which is why Felix Cat Insurance chose this month to bring their plan to fruition. The contest is open until December 19th, and the company will choose one lucky winner whose kitty-centered proposal plan sounds the best three days after that, on December 22nd. The winner will be gifted $4,750 or have the cost of an engagement ring covered. Not only that, but they will also receive a package of cat treats, festive toys, and even elegant cat clothes for their furry helper – to wear on the special occasion, of course. "Our felines are family members and just like your closest friends and family, we want to include them in celebrating meaningful moments like this," said Jamie Maxfield, Marketing Director and Brand Expert at Felix Cat Insurance. "Planning for the future can also bring challenges, which is why we're spreading holiday cheer by easing the expense of this life milestone as you, your partner, and your furry friend embark on your new life together. Not only is Felix here to ease the expense of this core life event, but we can also be there every step of the way afterwards."Here are the contest details as laid out by the company:Prize:$4,750 to put toward an engagement ring. A curated kit of treats and surprises so your furry friend can join in on the celebration. Dates: The contest opens on November 28th, 2023 at 12:01 a.m. EST and ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on December 19, 2023. The winner will be selected on December 22, 2023. Eligibility & Rules: You must live in the United States.You must be 18+ in age. The proposal must take place within the month of December. This contest is not available in Washington or Puerto Rico. For more information on the "Purr-fect Proposal" contest, including terms and conditions, visit  FelixPurrfectProposal.com. Good luck – and congrats on the engagement to be!

Do Dogs Experience Grief?

Anyone who has ever shared their heart and home with a dog can attest to how deep the emotional connection we form with our best friends is. It is this bond that makes saying goodbye so difficult. But are we the only ones experiencing this pain?If you have recently experienced the passing of a pet or family member and noticed your dog acting a little differently, you may be wondering – Do dogs experience grief, too?In this article, we will dig into the truth about canine emotions and canine grief. This includes understanding what grief means to your dog, learning to recognize the signs that they may be mourning and tips for helping your best friend navigate this difficult time.Do Dogs Experience Grief or Mourning?The short answer is yes, dogs do grieve the loss of a person or animal in their lives. In a 2022 study led by Dr. Federica Pirrone, a veterinary physiologist at the University of Milan, 86% of dog owners reported that they saw a change in behavior in their surviving dog after losing a companion.Our dogs form close bonds with one another and with us. This can be seen both in wild dogs, with the relationships that exist between pack members, as well as the domesticated dogs of today.While they can’t tell us how they are feeling (although we wish they could), dog parents often witness physical and behavioral changes that indicate something is “off” for their dog following a loss. This occurs when a family member (human or pet) passes or even if a family member moves away like a child moving out of the family home.Recognizing that our dogs also go through a grieving process allows us to take steps to help our beloved furry friends deal with this difficult time.

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