Fleas are an unpleasant thought. We don’t want them on our pets and we certainly don’t want them in our homes. Thankfully, there are a multitude of effective flea treatments out there, so you can choose the format that’s right for your dog or cat and your lifestyle.
You may be considering your options, from oral tablets to topical products, like spot-ons that are placed onto your pet’s skin, but a flea collar could be the solution you’re looking for.
Choosing a flea collar
Dog flea collars and cat flea collars come in many forms, and that means they often work very differently from one another in helping to prevent fleas, so it’s worth doing a bit of research.
There are some big differences between the older generation of flea collars you can buy very cheaply in pet stores and the more recent designs. Older collars may not have the same built-in safety mechanisms as the more recent designs, and the way the active ingredients are delivered to the pet can vary. Many older collars are often coated in the active ingredients, which can make them greasy and give them an odour. It’s also harder for these collars to release a consistent dose of the active ingredients over time.
More recent collars, such as Seresto Flea and Tick Control collar, use more modern technology, that allows the active ingredients to be stored inside the collar matrix. These ingredients are released at a controlled dose over a 7-8 month period, making them a popular option to protect pets against fleas and ticks that could harm their health.
Because the active ingredients in Seresto are embedded in the collar’s material, there’s no mess, no grease and no smell. Once fitted on your dog or cat, the collar works by dispersing the active ingredients throughout their skin and coat, killing fleas within 24 hours and actively repelling and killing ticks.ƚ The collar consistently releases the active ingredients at a slow and steady rate across the entire surface of the skin, providing 7-8 months of protection against fleas and ticks. It is also water-resistant, so it continues working even after the occasional dip!*
What are the active ingredients in the Seresto Flea and Tick Control collar?
Seresto contains the active ingredients imidacloprid and flumethrin. These are topical active ingredients – which means they are not absorbed into the bloodstream of your pet but they are instead bound to the lipid (fat) layer of your pet’s skin and are also present in their coat. The ingredients are locked away inside the collar’s matrix, for your peace of mind. The collar is clinically proven, recommended by vets, and can be used on puppies from 7 weeks and kittens from 10 weeks of age.
- Imidacloprid - Imidacloprid is an active ingredient that kills fleas within 24 hours by affecting their central nervous system. Fleas are affected through contact, meaning they don’t have to bite your pet in order to be killed.ƚ
Imidacloprid also helps to kill flea larvae (after flea eggs have hatched) in the pet’s surroundings within the home, following contact with the treated pet.
- Flumethrin - Flumethrin affects the central nervous system of ticks. Flumethrin also works through contact, so it repels and kills ticks before they have a chance to bite your pet.ƚ
It is important to note that all flea collars use different types of active ingredients that work differently, depending on the individual flea collar.
Safety features
Cats are curious creatures and dogs love to explore the great outdoors, which makes them perfect companions but it can also mean they get into the odd spot of bother.
Luckily, the Seresto collar has been designed with a ratchet release system, allowing it to widen if your pet becomes trapped while on an adventure. Seresto Flea and Tick Control collar for cats and small dogs has an extra safety feature: the built-in breaking-point, which allows the collar to break entirely if enough force is applied. This provides an additional layer of protection to give you peace of mind.
If you want to know more, read our guide to flea collars.
Keeping your pet healthy
Ultimately, a regular flea treatment will protect your dog or cat from those nasty parasites to help to keep them healthy. Not only are fleas an itchy and pesky nuisance for both pets and humans, they can also carry the tapeworm parasite and pass it on to your pet pal. Find out how fleas can make dogs and cats unwell.
Seresto Flea and Tick Control collar is available without prescription from your vet, online and at pet stores.
Use our guide to flea collars to find out more about how flea collars work and how to decide which one to choose.
* Monthly shampooing or water immersion does not significantly shorten the 8 months efficacy duration for ticks after redistribution of the active substances in the coat, whereas the product’s flea efficacy gradually decreased, starting in the 5th month.
ƚMehlhorn et. al (2001) Parasitol Res 87(198-207). Information is regarding mode of action and is not intended to relate to speed of kill or imply parasites can be completely stopped from biting; an attachment of single ticks after treatment cannot be excluded if conditions are unfavourable.
Use Medicines Responsibly.
Seresto Flea and Tick Control collar contains imidacloprid and flumethrin (NFA-VPS). Further information is available from the datasheet at www.noahcompendium.co.uk or on request. The Bayer cross is a Registered trademark of Bayer AG. Seresto, Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. Elanco UK AH Ltd., Form 2, Bartley Wood Business Park, Bartley Way, Hook, RG27 9XA. Tel. 01256 353131
