Looking for the best flea collars for dogs? For being such tiny critters, fleas and ticks can cause a number of serious health complications for your beloved pup.
The simple act of giving your dog a preventative flea collar can protect them against possible health conditions, itchy skin, and keep your home free of any unwanted pests.
In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of flea and tick prevention, and the best flea and tick collars for dogs that we trust to get the job done!
Best Flea Collar for Dogs: Our Top Pick
If you are pinched for time, our top-rated flea collar for large dogs is the Seresto Flea and Tick Collar. Its protection against external parasites is unmatched, and it is backed by veterinary professionals around the world.
Other Top-Rated Flea Collars Reviewed
- Rolf 3D Flea and Tick Collar
- Bearant Flea and Tick Collar
- AES Flea and Tick Collar
- Petsmont Flea and Tick Collar
Why Does My Dog Need a Flea Collar?
Since our dogs go outside for their bathroom trips, they are automatically exposed to crawling critters that would love to make them their host. Since our dogs have no control over this occurrence, it’s up to us to protect them against invaders that can cause them harm.
When a dog is exposed to external parasites such as fleas and ticks, they can cause a number of troubling symptoms that can severely impact their lives. Whether it’s severe itching, flea and tick diseases, or intestinal parasites that they carry, fleas and ticks can wreak havoc on your furry friend.
Aside from the effect that they can have on our fur babies is the way they can disrupt our home. Once fleas and ticks make their way into your home, it’s not long before a full-blown infestation develops. These tiny critters love to hang out in dark places under your furniture, deep in the carpet and even feed off of us if given the chance.
The disease and discomfort that fleas and ticks bring can affect us as well, so by protecting our pups, we can protect ourselves as well.
How Do I Know if my Dog Has Fleas or Ticks?
In order to check for fleas and ticks, we recommend a weekly check of their skin and fur. Since fleas and ticks can get out of control quickly, weekly fur checks are important to eliminate the problem quickly.
- Check your dog’s skin by combing through their fur with a fine-tooth comb. This can help you separate the strands of fur, and pick up any debris that can suggest the presence of fleas and ticks.
- Check in their ears, behind their ears, in between their toes, on their belly, and every other spot that ticks may hide. They love to hide in dark places.
- Check for any flea dirt on your dog’s skin (black debris that looks like dirt on their skin). If flea dirt is present, it’s safe to say that your dog has or has had fleas recently.
- If your dog is itching and you can’t seem to find a source, make sure to have them seen by your veterinarian for a thorough check for external parasites or other skin conditions.
Best Flea Collars for Dogs Reviews
With something as important as flea and tick prevention, it can be tough to know which products will actually get the job done. We’ve done the research for you and put together a list of the best flea collars that we trust!
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
 | Our Top Pick Seresto Flea and Tick Collar
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Rolf 3D Flea and Tick Collar
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Bearant Flea and Tick Collar
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | AES Flea and Tick Collar
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Petsmont Flea and Tick Collar
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
#1 – Seresto Flea and Tick Collar
This particular collar kills adult fleas, flea larvae, ticks, and lice, meaning almost all external parasites are fought off with this trustworthy collar. Though it is strong enough to kill fleas and ticks, it does its work without the addition of a strong odor or medication smell that other fleas and tick collars possess.
It also has a safety release mechanism, eliminating the possibility of your dog choking if their collar ever gets caught on something. This flea medication collar has your dog’s best interest at heart in a number of ways and we rate it the best flea collar for large dogs.
Pros
- Kills adult fleas, flea larvae, ticks, and lice.
- It lasts for 6 months.
- Has a safety release mechanism for choking prevention.
- No strong odor.
- Veterinary recommended.
Cons
- It is the most expensive collar on this list, but it is the most effective.
- Some dogs have had skin reactions around their neck.
#2 – Rolf 3D Flea and Tick Collar
Since mosquitoes are a vector for the blood parasite called heartworms, this is a beneficial feature for your furry friend. This collar is odor-free, meaning your dog won’t be left to endure the strong medication smell that other flea collars leave behind.
Even with the powerful protection that this flea, tick and mosquito collar offers, this brand works to offer the flea collar at a price that any dog owner can afford.
Pros
- Kills adult fleas, flea larvae, and ticks.
- Advertised as being hypoallergenic for dogs with sensitive skin.
- Repels mosquitoes.
- One size fits all, so the price won’t vary with larger dogs.
- Lasts for 8 months.
Cons
- Some reviews state that the collar is a bit flimsy and can break.
- Some reviews say the collar has stopped working as well at the 6-month mark.
#3 – Bearant Flea and Tick Collar
By using Geranium, Citronella, and Peppermint this collar repels up to 500 kinds of insects and kills fleas and ticks for 8 months. With its durable, waterproof, and safe design, you can trust that your pup has safe and natural flea and tick protection on their side.
Pros
- Kills and repels fleas, ticks, and up to 500 other insects.
- No chemicals, and uses Citronella, Geranium, and Peppermint to repel fleas and ticks.
- Lasts for 8 months.
- One size fits all, so the price won’t vary with larger dogs.
- Since it’s natural it is advertised to be hypoallergenic and safe for any dog.
Cons
- Some purchasers mention having to bathe their dog and get rid of fleas in order for this collar to work to its full potential. Once they were free of fleas, it did then repel the way it is advertised.
#4 – AES Flea and Tick Collar
The AES Flea and Tick Collar works to kill and repel adult fleas, flea larvae, ticks, and mosquitos for up to 1 year! This collar fights off external parasites naturally with its eco-friendly list of ingredients such as clove oil, thyme oil, lemongrass oil, and castor oil.
Since it is made of natural and safe ingredients, you won’t have to worry about allergic reactions or sensitivities for your furry friend. With its one size fits all technology, you won’t have to worry about an increase in price when choosing a flea collar your large dog.
By focusing on all-natural ingredients, you can trust that this non-toxic flea and tick collar has what it takes to protect your dog from fleas without the use of harsh chemicals.
Pros
- Kills and repels adult fleas, flea larvae, ticks, and mosquitos.
- Works for up to 1 year.
- Uses natural ingredients to fight off external parasites.
- One size fits all, so there’s no increase in price for larger dogs.
- Hypoallergenic and eco-friendly.
Cons
- Though it is advertised to work for up to 1 year, some reviewers mention that it loses effectiveness around 7-8 months.
#5 – Petsmont Flea and Tick Collar
This collar advertises its natural and safe products that are all plant-based. With the collar being free of any harsh chemicals, you can help eliminate and potential reactions or irritation.
The Petsmont flea collar contains a list of impressive natural ingredients such as Peppermint oil, Citronella oil, Cedarwood oil, Lemon Eucalyptus oil, Lemongrass oil, Lavender oil, Geranium oil. With a list of ingredients like that you know that your dog will experience natural protection from a product you can trust.
Pros
- Kills and repels adult fleas, flea larvae, ticks, lice, and mosquitos.
- Works for up to 1 year.
- Comes with two collars.
- Uses natural and plant-based ingredients to fight off external parasites.
- Hypoallergenic and eco-friendly.
- One size fits all, so no price increase for large dogs.
Cons
- Some purchasers mention that this product has a strong citronella smell that bothers some dogs.
What Conditions Can Fleas and Ticks Cause?
The list of complications that fleas and ticks can cause is endless. Some health concerns that they bring along with their presence include:
1. Itching
Fleas and ticks can cause extreme discomfort in your furry companion. The feeling of having fleas move around through their fur, and having ticks clung to their skin can drive them absolutely crazy. Dogs with fleas or ticks use scratching and biting as their only defense, which can cause problems of its own.
2. Skin infections
Dogs with fleas or ticks rely on scratching and biting to relieve the itch they leave behind. When a dog has to scratch at their skin constantly, this can result in self-mutilation.
Dogs will often scratch themselves raw, bite their skin to the point of discomfort, and continue to irritate these areas until they are infected. Fleas can also cause a skin reaction in some dogs that will cause them to scratch to the point of injury.
3. Intestinal parasites
Flea and tick collars not only control fleas, but they help to prevent intestinal parasites as well. The common parasite known as the tapeworm is actually acquired through the flea.
It is extremely common for dogs to get tapeworms since so many fleas carry tapeworm eggs. If your dog has this intestinal parasite they can experience diarrhea, weight loss, itching, and you often see these rice segmented parasites alive in their stool. If that isn’t enough to convince you to prevent fleas, tapeworms are also zoonotic, meaning humans can acquire these parasites as well.
4. Flea-borne disease & Tick-borne disease
Fleas and ticks are a vector for multiple blood diseases that can cause your dog and you to become extremely ill.
For example, your dog can suffer from Hemobartonellosis, Babesia, Anaplasmosis, Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and the complications that come along with these diseases. Not only can these diseases cause severe illness for our pups, but some are even zoonotic, meaning we can suffer from them as well.
These diseases can cause you or your dog to become so ill that each of you can require intensive treatment and hospitalization due to their effects. If the presence of fleas and ticks aren’t enough to gross you out, then the threat of disease should be enough.
5. Anemia
Fleas and ticks can lead to severe anemia, which is an inadequate number of red blood cells circulating. Anemia is a serious condition that can cause respiratory distress, pale gums, weakness, collapse, and even death. Anemia from fleas or tick-borne disease can be so severe that dogs require blood transfusions and hospitalization.
Flea infestations causing anemia are actually quite common in emergency medicine, and often result in a hefty hospitalization bill with blood transfusions, or result in dogs losing their lives. Fleas may seem like a small problem, but they are extremely capable of turning your pup’s world upside down.
What if a Dog Already Has Fleas?
Flea and tick collars for dogs work wonders to keep crawling critters away, but they can struggle to do the job if your pup is already covered. Some tips to remove fleas and ticks include:
Dawn dish soap bath
Flea shampoos can be dangerous, and some are known to cause tremors and seizures in dogs when used incorrectly. To completely avoid these risks, a safe and effective option to remove fleas is a bath using dawn dish soap.
Dawn is proven to kill all living fleas on the body and is the method used in veterinary clinics to kill fleas in flea-infested patients. Make sure to really lather your pup and massage to the skin to make sure you are saturating every surface of the skin. Once you have removed all the loving fleas, their new flea and tick collar can go to work to prevent future infestations.
Tick removal
Removing ticks can be tricky, so we recommend seeing a veterinarian to perform proper tick removal. By simply pulling the tick from the skin you often leave the head of the tick behind, which is still problematic for your pup.
A veterinarian can easily remove these ticks for you, and even show you how to do this yourself in the future. If you cannot see a vet, here is a diagram that shows where you position your tweezers when removing a tick.
Capstar Oral Flea Tablet
Capstar is a fast-acting oral flea medication that can kill all living fleas on your dog in just a few hours. With just one oral dose according to their weight range, the pill will distribute a chemical in the bloodstream that will kill the fleas when they bite your dog’s skin.
In the first hour after giving Capstar flea treatment, you may notice your dog becoming itchier. This is because the chemical that the fleas ingest affects their nervous system, causing them to move erratically on your dog’s skin, which will, in turn, cause them to itch more during this first hour.
This is completely normal and will end once all the fleas have died. You may also see fleas jumping from their fur, but keep in mind that these fleas will die since they have ingested the chemical.
Keep in mind that this pill can only be given once every 24 hours, and is not a suitable replacement for flea prevention itself. Long term daily use is NOT recommended.
Wrapping Up the Best Flea Collars for Dogs
Fleas and ticks are pesky critters that can truly wreak havoc on you and your dog’s life. Now that we’ve discussed the importance of flea and tick prevention, you have all the tools you need to protect yourself and your furry companion.
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A big-dog lover, successful marketing executive, and website developer, Brian founded Canine Weekly in 2016. Brian lives just outside of Seattle with his wife and child. Brian grew up with labs and the family is eager to get another Labrador once their newborn is a little older. Brian is the former owner of Canine Weekly.