
Dog flea products come in two flavors. There are preventative measures and treatments for an infestation. The first can be used as an insurance policy against your dog getting fleas or ticks, but they are not fool proof. It’s important to regularly check your pet for fleas even if they are wearing a flea collar.
A flea collar works by sending out a chemical that kills fleas and ticks. It wraps around your dog’s neck just like a regular collar and the plastic slowly releases the chemical. Flea collars generally last for 6 months. They are by no means fool proof, for one thing your dog is most protected about the head and shoulders. Depending on the size of your dog a flea collar will have little to no effect on its hind quarters. That is why there are other flea products available for your dog.
Because of the shortcomings of a flea collar, it is usually beneficial to take other measures to protect your pet from fleas and ticks. A topical lotion is a good product for this application. You can apply it to the areas of your dog a collar just isn’t reaching, and it will kill off any fleas or ticks in the area. You can also pick up a chemical spray for your yard. This spray will actually prevent the larvae from gestating into adult fleas and ticks, precluding an infestation entirely.