Effectiveness of Flea/Tick Collars vs. Topical Liquid??? - Page 1

Well, in a most recent issue of Dogfancy magazine, they described how topical Flea/Tick liquid works. 

Now, perhaps this was stupid thinking on my part, but I had always believed that you applied the liquid in a line down the dogs back, from shoulders to base of tail and the smell of the liquid is what repelled the fleas and ticks. HOWEVER, it was said in the article that upon applying the topical liquid to the dog's back, it is absorbed into the blood stream, via the skin/hair folicles and then the hair folicles absorb the chemical and then the protection starts, because the hair folicles absorb the liquid.

Here's my question, how effective are flea and tick collars? I would assume (yep, know what they say about assuming) they aren't as effective, but are they effective at all?

Also, there was no mention of oral preventative, such as Heartworm meds (monthly) that are supposed to prevent fleas and ticks and remove certain internal parasites, but there is also a brand called Capstar, which is just an oral flea killer, I believe.

Does anyone have any knowledge (not guesses please, I have enough of those-hahaha) about Flea and tick collars and oral preventatives? Thanks.

It's not the smell, it's a chemical that sinks into the skin and acts as a pesticide to kill fleas/ticks once they bite the animal. I work at a vet clinic, and we sell one tick collar that is amazing. I can't think of who makes it, but it repels, and I mean really repels ticks for 3 months. It is some kind of prescription collar, not like the Hartz/Bio Spot ones that you can get at WalMart or Petsmart. And I live in the deep south, run my dogs through the woods, and she has yet to get a tick.

As for the oral, it depends on what it is. Comfortis or Trifexis are both good, but it can cause the dog to vomit within the first 12 hours, and if that happens, then there's the question of did the medication get absorbed before the dog vomited. I've always liked Sentinel, it's worked really well for my dogs. Frontline/Pet Armor is ok, but in the south it does a mediocre job of repelling fleas. I love Advantage Multi, but it doesn't do ticks (hence the tick collar).

I hope this helps.

Thanks Macrowe1, it does help! I wasn't sure that the collars did the same thing as the liquid! 

My vet gives us (the fur kids) Sentinel and we've been pretty happy with it. Now that it's warm out, we'll be going in for some.

Thanks so much, glad you were able to answer my questions :)

Heartgaurd: There is no residual effect...It kills the worms that are there...Therefore you are killing the parasites that are there from the previous month...You ARE NOT killing the parasites that will be there in the next month...
This is why you give it every month...

Thanks Q Man, my vet has never recommened Heartguard for the kids, she swears by Sentinel. I still treat my kids on the side with Fenbendazole (Panacur) every 6 months. Keeps all the babies worm free, and I have to blindly trust the rest to the Sentinel.