Depending on the region, it is tick season from spring to fall. We therefore recommend that you start thinking about the right tick collar for your dog at the end of winter. This is because the ingredients, effects and side effects of dog collars to protect against ticks vary greatly. In this article, we will show you which tick collars are available for dogs and other animals and explain how the individual collars work.
How do tick collars work?
The effects of tick collars for dogs vary. While natural collars such as the EM ceramic collar or amber necklaces are designed to prevent ticks from biting by means of resonance vibrations and metabolic changes, chemical tick collars work by means of toxic ingredients - in most cases insecticides. Manufacturers rely on four complementary and interlocking levels of effectiveness to protect dogs and other animals:
Repellent effect
The repellent effect has a deterrent effect on ticks and many other insects such as mosquitoes and fleas. The active ingredients in the collar prevent the parasites from settling on the dog and biting. This deterrent effect is also known as a repellent effect. There are also many plant-based products with a repellent effect, such as the Spot On for dogs or tick spray - tick repellent for dogs.
Hot foot effect
The hot-foot effect is the next level of effectiveness of dog tick collars for repelling parasites. When the pest comes into contact with the ingredients, they cause coordination disorders, paralysis and confusion in the parasites, causing them to fall off the host animal.
Anti-feeding effect
If a tick does find its way onto the animal, the parasite is prevented from biting or stinging the animal by the active ingredient. This is because the dog's skin fat is infused with the active ingredient so that ticks, fleas and the like are prevented from biting or stinging the animal.
Knock-down effect
The final stage then causes the death of the insects, also known as the knock-down effect. The pests die as a result of the poison.
Two well-known chemical-based tick collars for dogs are Scalibor and Seresto. Many dog owners are convinced by these products and use them regularly. But what ingredients are in these tick collars for dogs and do they have side effects?
Scalibor tick collar for dogs
Scalibor Protector collar: The active ingredient in this anti-tick collar is deltamethrin, which is an insecticide and acts like a neurotoxinon the parasites. It is also found in pesticides and is used to impregnate mosquito nets. The effect develops after one to two weeks of use. The active ingredient is absorbed by the skin fat and spreads throughout the dog's body.
However, caution is advised when keeping cats. This is because the tick collar is poisonous for cats, and the velvet paws can suffer long-term damage. You should also make sure that neither dog nor cat accidentally swallows the collar. It can lead to coordination disorders, salivation and trembling in four-legged friends.
Although the Scalibor Protector collar is water-repellent so that the dog can swim with it, it is also harmful to aquatic organisms. The manufacturer therefore recommends that animals are not allowed into the water with this collar.
Due to the insecticidal active ingredients, the Scalibor tick collar for dogs repels the majority of parasites such as ticks, sand or butterfly mosquitoes (especially important when traveling to the Mediterranean) as well as the common mosquito and fleas. However, 100% protection is not guaranteed. The collar is effective for approx. 6 months.
Seresto tick collar for dogs
Seresto tick collar: In contrast to the Scalibor collar, the Seresto collar has the dual effect of two active ingredients - imidacloprid and flumethrin. The former is the most widely used insecticide in the world and is both a contact and feeding poison. It is suspected that this insecticide has a weakly mutagenic and gene-manipulating effect. Flumethrin, on the other hand, is an antiparasitic. It acts on the sodium channels of the nerve cells of ticks, fleas and other pests and ultimately leads to the death of the parasites through overexcitation.
These active ingredients in the Seresto tick collar for dogs are also distributed over the entire body via the skin fat by being continuously released into the animal's skin fat.
It is odorless and water-resistant. However, swimming in ponds, lakes or rivers should also be avoided with this collar, as it is also hazardous to water and can lead to the death of the animals living in it.
The Seresto tick collar is effective for approx. 8 months. However, despite the chemical effect, 100% protection cannot be achieved.
What are the side effects of chemical tick collars for dogs?
Conventional tick collars for dogs are based on insecticides, i.e. neurotoxins, which are based on the four-stage principle of action. They have a pronounced acaricidal effect and are designed to kill ticks before they bite. The ingredients migrate into the skin layer of the dog and spread over its entire body to completely protect the dog. However, these neurotoxins can also cause damage to dogs and are toxic and even life-threatening to smaller animals such as rodents and cats.
Chemical tick collar dog - side effects that may occur:
- Itching
- Dandruff on the skin
- Brittle coat
- Inflammatory reactions
- Skin irritation
- Behavioral changes
- Confusion
- neurological disorders
- epileptic seizures
Every dog owner should make their own decision for or against tick collars with insecticides. However, it should be noted that many people criticize the use of insecticides and pesticides on fields, meadows and the like, but these are precisely the poisons that are used for pets to repel parasites. This also involves the risk of the substances penetrating the animal's organism.
Alternatives to chemical tick collars
Due to the possible side effects of conventional chemical tick collars for dogs, many owners are looking for gentler alternatives for their four-legged friends. Here are some suggestions that work on a natural basis and protect your dog from ticks:
EM ceramic collar - The new trend
These anti-tick collars for dogs have been on the rise for some time now. EM stands for Effective Microorganisms, which include yeasts, lactic acid bacteria and phothosynthesis bacteria. These living microorganisms are found in ceramic stones and trigger resonance vibrations and increased metabolic activity in the four-legged friends. In this way, they create an environment that is hostile to parasites. This is intended to deter ticks, fleas and the like and make the four-legged friend unpalatable to them.
The effect of the EM ceramic collar for dogs wears off after approx. 4 weeks. But it doesn't have to be thrown away, wash it once and leave it to dry in the sun, then the collar is ready for use again.
Ceramic collars are controversial among dog owners, some swear by them and others think they are nonsense. Experiences with this natural tick protection are also varied: while some speak of an overwhelming effect, other dogs are not deterred from ticks at all. Every dog owner must form their own opinion and gain practical experience with these tick collars for dogs.
The collar has no side effects, but dog owners report that hair loss decreases significantly and mite infestation also decreases. In combination with other natural remedies, it can be a good alternative.
Amber chains as tick protection
Amber chains are also widely used as tick collars for dogs. They also have supporters and critics. The protection against ticks is said to be as follows: A special chemical composition of the amber is said to cause friction with the dog's coat and trigger an electrical charge. This is transferred to the parasites so that they are thrown off the animal by the electric shock. Of course, the dog does not feel this electric charge, but it is very unpleasant for the parasites. In addition, amber is said to contain essential oils that have a repellent effect on the parasites.
Tick collar for dogs with margosa extract
Margosa extract is one of the natural herbal alternatives for antiparasitics and is obtained from the flowers, seeds and leaves of the neem tree. It is also officially approved as a repellent against ticks and other parasites. Many dog owners, including us at AniForte® , are convinced that purely natural ingredients such as margosa extract are equally effective in repelling ticks and other parasites. This natural raw material therefore forms the basis of our anti-tick product AniForte® Ectoprotex for dogs and is supplemented with coconut oil, geranium oil and black cumin oil, among others. These vegetable oils have an additional supportive effect against parasites and contribute to healthy skin and a shiny coat. Tick collars with margosa extract are also widely used and do not cause any known side effects.
Coconut oil against ticks
Coconut oil for dogs is a tried and tested remedy against ticks. Numerous studies have already investigated the effect of coconut oil on parasites. The lauric acid it contains has a repellent effect on arachnids, making ticks, fleas and other insects reluctant to settle on dogs that smell of it. You can feed your dog coconut oil, rub it on before going for a walk or use a lauric acid-based tick collar. The scent also spreads through the animal's skin oil all over the body, creating natural protection.
Conclusion
In order to buy the right tick collar for dogs and other animals, you should weigh up your requirements in terms of tick protection. While chemical tick collars for dogs contain insecticides and therefore have a very long-term effect, natural products are not quite as effective. Some also have to be applied to the dog immediately before going for a walk. However, no product offers 100% protection against these annoying pests - neither chemical nor natural.
However, you should also consider possible side effects. If you have a sensitive dog, we recommend using a natural product.
