Tick Collars To Your Dog’s Rescue: Do They Really Work?

How do tick collars work?

Tick collars are tick or flea repellants in collar form. One of the most convenient ways to protect your pet from ticks and fleas, these work by releasing parasite-repelling chemicals into your dog’s fur. 

Since these ectoparasites pose serious threats to your dog’s health and cause discomfort, investing in a tick collar is a good idea. 

Here’s why. 

Ticks and Fleas Are A Health Hazard

The fluffy fur of your dog is the perfect place for ticks and fleas to thrive. 

A tick is a parasitic arachnid and a flea is a flightless insect. As an arachnid, the tick has eight legs compared to the flea’s six. The tick is also larger. Both are parasites that survive by feeding on the blood of animals by piercing into their skin. 

They take on other animals, too, but it is vital to emphasize that they victimize mammals to a great extent. Once your dog gets ticks or fleas, so can you.

In other words, tick collars for dogs will also benefit the humans surrounding them. 
Ticks and fleas can cause various illnesses in dogs. One of the ways to determine if your dog is sick is by checking the dog’s tongue color.

A healthy dog should have a pink tongue unless the breed is either a Chow Chow or Shar Pei, which have blue-black tongues by nature.

When you find your dog’s tongue turning a pale shade of pink, then it probably has parasites. If its tongue is red, the dog might have a bacterial infection. Both could be caused by ticks and fleas. 

The following are some of the diseases your dog may get from the external parasites that may be living within their fur:

1. Anemia

Parasites like ticks and fleas can consume as much as 15 times their body weight in blood. Multiple ticks or fleas on a dog mean a lot of blood loss, which will result in anemia in the dog. 

Before this happens, you should consider putting a tick collar on your pet. 

How do flea and tick collars work? 

The collar has two functions: repel and treat. Most collars nowadays can do both. A tick collar contains imidacloprid and flumethrin, which are released in small doses to repel these parasites.

2. Allergy

The saliva of ticks or fleas may cause an allergic reaction in dogs. Symptoms include itchiness, which may result in scratches and open wounds if your dog intensely scratches the itch. 

Your dog may also experience hair loss and skin infections. 

A tick collar may be more convenient when the allergy hits because one of the other options is an oral treatment. 

The issue with the oral treatment is that it works when the medication is already in the dog’s system. The ticks and fleas die only when they bite the dog and they get a dose of medication with the blood. 

3. Tick-Borne Disease

Ticks can be infected with bacteria, viruses, or parasites that could lead to the following serious diseases:

• Ehrlichiosis
• Lyme Disease
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Symptoms of these diseases include fever, loss of appetite, pain, swelling of joints, and swollen lymph nodes, among others. They could be fatal, so you must check with your dog’s veterinarian right away.

Ticks are found in some places year-round. The greatest chance of being bitten by a tick is in the spring and summer, with another spike in the fall.

-Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Do Tick Collars Work?

Yes, they work! 

However, not immediately. 

So, how long do tick collars take to work? You have to wait at least 48 hours for the collar to function as it should. By that time, the collar will release controlled dosages of both imidacloprid and flumethrin all over your dog’s fur. 

Even if these parasites have already found a home within your pet’s cozy fur, then the active ingredients will eventually drive them away. 

Most tick collars are water-resistant, so you don’t have to remove them while bathing your dog. However, they usually only last for eight months. You must replace it by then if ticks or fleas continue to be a problem. 

But can dogs get ticks with a tick collar? 

Unfortunately, the answer is yes. 

As with everything else in life, nothing is 100% full-proof. Tick collars work, but a single tick or flea can already create a health issue for your dog. So, don’t depend solely on tick collars.

Other Ways to Prevent Ticks and Fleas

How long should a dog wear a tick collar? A tick collar can last for eight months, so your dog can wear it for that long. 

If your dog is already free from ticks and fleas, you don’t need to put another tick collar on. Instead, you can do the following:

Pat Your Dog Daily for Ticks

Dogs usually get ticks from spending time outdoors. So, after you come home from your walk, you can frisk your dog for ticks. Run your fingers all over your dog’s body and feel for bumps and check if these are from ticks and fleas. 

Make sure you have gloves on for protection because ticks can bite you too. When you do find a tick or flea, remove it using a tick remover or a tweezer.

Groom Your Dog

Groom your dog at least once a month to keep it clean and its fur healthy. Regular grooming will also prevent ticks and fleas. At home, you can ensure that your dog has healthy fur by combing it with a flea comb as often as you can.

What is the Best Protection Against Ticks for Dogs?

That depends on your dog’s lifestyle, health, and the place you live in. Usually, regular grooming along with a tick collar or an oral treatment should suffice. Consult your vet to learn how do tick collars work and invest in a good one today.