What is Seresto Flea & Tick Control collar?

It's an innovative collar that is clinically proven to provide 7-8 months flea and tick protection for your dog or cat. With Seresto, one collar is all it takes to give you peace of mind for 7-8 months.

Using an advanced polymer matrix, the active ingredients are stored within the collar itself. Utilising the natural oils in your pet's skin, Seresto steadily releases the active ingredients from head to tail, keeping them protected for 7-8 months. Seresto is clinically proven to kill fleas and actively repel and kill ticks through contact, so no bite is required for it to work.¹

No, you don't need a prescription to buy the Seresto Flea and Tick control collar. The collar used to be a prescription-only product meaning it was only available from vets, but it is now available without prescription., making it even easier to protect your furry friend. However, it is important to make sure you are getting a genuine Seresto Flea and Tick Control collar – that’s why we recommend you purchase from your local vet practice, a high street pet retailer  or agricultural store where you can speak with an SQP in store. If you are buying online, we recommend using one of our official partners.

There are two: imidacloprid, which kills adult fleas and flea larvae; and flumethrin, which repels and kills all life stages of ticks. Both ingredients act through contact without the need for parasites to bite¹.

In the Seresto collar for small dogs and the collar for cats, there is 1.25g of imidacloprid and 0.56g of flumethrin.
In the Seresto collar for large dogs, there is 4.5g of imidacloprid and 2.03g of flumethrin.

If you have only just put the Seresto collar on your pet, it can take up to 48 hours for Seresto to kill fleas already present. Once your pet has worn the collar for at least 48 hours, any new fleas jumping on to them should be killed within 24 hours³. 

If your pet is already suffering from a flea infestation before you apply Seresto, you can use a quick-acting flea treatment too, such as Capstar: flea tablets that start killing fleas within 30 minutes and can be used in combination with Seresto. Used together, Capstar will provide quick relief by killing live fleas, and Seresto will prevent re-infestation occurring for 7-8 months.

If there is an existing tick already attached to your pet before the collar is applied, it can take 48 hours for it to be killed. We’d recommend removing any ticks that are already attached to your pets before you use Seresto. Learn how to remove ticks from cats and dogs to make sure you remove them safely.

If your pet has been wearing Seresto for over 48 hours, new ticks will be actively repelled and killed.

A Seresto Flea and Tick Control collar protects your pet against fleas for 7-8 months and against ticks for 8 months in a single application. It is recommended the you replace the collar after this time to ensure your pet is continually protected.

No, it doesn’t. The collar is odourless, so there are none of the unpleasant chemical smells you may associate with other flea and tick collars.

No. Stretching of the collar for activation is not necessary. Simply fit as instructed around your pet’s neck for 7-8 months of protection against fleas and ticks.

Seresto doesn’t work this way, so there's no need to brush or wipe the collar anywhere on your pet before applying. Simply put the collar around your pet's neck and make sure you adjust it properly, to give you 7-8 months of flea and tick protection.

The collar is water resistant; it remains effective after a spell of rain or splashing in puddles and does not need to be removed for infrequent swimming or bathing. However, prolonged, intense exposure to water, or extensive shampooing, should be avoided as the duration of activity may be reduced. If your pet is swimming or being bathed regularly, an alternative product may be more appropriate. This can be discussed with your vet or local retail store. 

Seresto is a product that works to protect cats and dogs against fleas and ticks. Although mites are within the same family as ticks, Seresto is not indicated to kill ear mites in cats or dogs.

Seresto does not need to be removed for swimming or bathing. However, if your pet is swimming or being bathed regularly, an alternative product (e.g. a tablet) may be more appropriate for your dog's flea and tick control. This can be discussed with your vet or local retail store. The collar is water resistant; it remains effective after a spell of rain or splashing in puddles. However, prolonged, intense exposure to water, or extensive shampooing, should be avoided as the duration of activity may be reduced.

Absolutely. The Seresto Flea and Tick Control collar can be worn alongside your pet´s usual collar without compromising its efficacy, provided the Seresto collar is still in contact with the animal’s coat.

No, you shouldn’t attach a lead to the collar, as the force of your pet pulling against it would potentially open the safety mechanism. Use your normal collar in addition to Seresto Flea and Tick Control collar, and attach your lead to your normal collar. Seresto Flea and Tick Control collar has not been specifically tested with a name tag, so we do not recommend attaching them to your pet's collar. If attaching Seresto charms to the collar, please closely follow the safety instructions provided with them.

The product is not recommended for use in pregnant and lactating bitches or queens.

Seresto Flea and Tick Control collar can be used on puppies aged seven weeks and older and on kittens aged ten weeks and older.

As puppies and kittens grow at different rates, we recommend frequent checks of the collar and readjustment if necessary. Watch the videos to see how to fit your Seresto Flea and Tick Control collar properly, and always follow the guidance provided.

Dogs or cats wearing the collar should not be allowed to sleep in or on the same bed as their owners, especially children.

The Seresto Flea and Tick Control collar contains a special ‘polymer matrix’ which keeps most of the active ingredients within the collar, rather than all being on its surface. However, do not allow children to play with the collar or to put it in their mouth. For more information, watch the video on how Seresto works.

The collar’s active ingredients are bound within the collar matrix, rather than all being on the surface of the collar, however chewing of the collar should still be avoided. In the unlikely event of the pet eating a collar, mild gastrointestinal signs (e.g. vomiting or diarrhoea) could be seen. If this happens- speak to your vet for advice. If your pet manages to get their own collar into their mouth it’s likely that it is applied too loosely. As a guide, you should be able to fit two fingers between the collar and your pet's neck.

In rare cases, pets may scratch at their collars on the first few days after fitting. Ensure that the collar is not fitted too tightly. Mild reactions such as itchiness, redness and hair loss can occur but are only reported rarely, and symptoms usually resolve within one to two weeks, without the need to remove the collar. In some cases, temporary collar removal may be recommended until the symptoms have disappeared. In very rare cases, more severe application site reactions may occur; in these instances, collar removal may be recommended. Always consult your vet if you have any concerns. 

The collar is designed with a ratchet release safety mechanism, which allows it to widen should an animal become trapped. The small dog or cat collar is also equipped with a pre-determined breaking point, so is able to snap completely under force.

There may be a few reasons why your Seresto collar may not be working for your cat. It’s important to check you have purchased a genuine collar, check that it fits correctly and ensure it is worn continuously by your pet.

If you have questions about the efficacy of the collars or are still concerned, please contact our technical services team on 01256 353 131.

Ticks may still get onto your pet’s coat when they brush past them, even if they are wearing a Seresto collar. The active ingredients work through contact, which means that ticks need to initially latch on to the pet to get exposed to the active ingredient, the product then acts to repel and kill them. Attachment of individual ticks can occur occasionally, especially in animals that are walked in areas with very high tick burdens. However, the vast majority of ticks will be repelled and killed before they are able to bite.  

If the collar does get dirty, you can simply wipe it down carefully with a moist cloth.

A small amount of mud or dirt on the outer surface of the collar would not be expected to affect the efficacy of the Seresto collar for your pet.  However, any mud that creates a barrier between the collar and your pet’s coat may impact the collar's ability to work.

If you need to remove the Seresto collar from your dog or cat to replace it, squeeze the outer sides of the buckle at the same time as pulling from the other end or side of the collar.

Some may find it just as easy to cut the collar off with scissors before applying a new collar.

We don't recommend doing this. To provide the optimum level of flea and tick protection, the collar should be worn continuously and replaced every 7-8 months. However, if you’ve removed the collar only temporarily (e.g. during grooming), you can reapply it without any problems.

No. It's important to put a new collar on without any delay so that your pet is continually protected.

The Seresto Flea and Tick Control collar now comes in a moulded fibre carton that, along with the outer cardboard sleeve, is fully recyclable. The carton is made with fibres from FSC-approved renewable sources and produces 70% less CO₂⁴ compared to the previous Seresto tin packaging. However, the inner protective pouch and the Seresto collar are still the same: the collar still provides 7-8 months clinically proven flea and tick protection in a single application.

Used collars or any remnants should be disposed of in general waste - so your usual household bin. Any packaging that's been in direct contact with medication should also go into your household waste bin. However, the cardboard outer packaging and any paper leaflets can be recycled. 

In rare cases, pets may scratch at their collars on the first few days after fitting. Ensure that the collar is not fitted too tightly. Mild reactions such as itchiness, redness and hair loss can occur but are only reported rarely, and symptoms usually resolve within one to two weeks, without the need to remove the collar. In some cases, temporary collar removal may be recommended until the symptoms have disappeared. In very rare cases, more severe application site reactions may occur; in these instances, collar removal may be recommended. Always consult your vet if you have any concerns.