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Flea Collars

- There are better alternatives now -

Summary: When first invented flea collars were a big advance in flea control. Even today slow-release insecticides are used for pest control in livestock. However, there are now safer and more effective alternatives for flea and tick control in pets.

Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)

What are flea collars?

Flea collars were introduced in 1964 as an effective, for the times, and relatively safe way to protect pet dogs and cats from fleas. Flea collars are made from a special plastic that slowly releases insecticide that kills adult fleas. After a specified interval the collars are replaced to renew the protection.

Prior to the wide-spread use of flea collars, flea infestations were a constant battle and irritant, not to mention health threat, for pet owners. Over the years there have been many different pesticides incorporated into the plastic collars. Similar slow-release technology is also used in cattle tags for fly control.
cat flea
adult cat flea

Who invented the flea collar?

The technology of slow-release pesticides was invented by Robert Goulding, Jr. in a small off-campus lab at Oregon State University. Dr. Goulding was a member of the Entomology Department at OSU (closed in 2003) until his retirement in 1981. Dr. Goulding died in 1991.

Do flea collars work (for fleas)?

When they were introduced flea collars were seen as an excellent solution to a vexing problem. They significantly reduced flea bites on animals that were otherwise under constant flea attack. However, they had a couple of problems.

Some animals develop an irritation in the collar area called flea collar dermatitis and the collars are really only effective on the front half of the body, closest to where the collars are worn. Ironically, flea collars are generally more effective as protection aganist tick bites.

Are there better flea control methods now?

Much better and safer methods are now available for flea and tick control. The best methods control adult fleas and ticks with a topically-applied flea medication coupled with treatment of the pet's environment with an insect growth regulator called methoprene. Methoprene prevents larval fleas from developing to adults. I'm confident that Dr. Goulding would have approved of these new methods. Find more detailed flea biology information starting at the main Flea page.

What about electronic flea collars?

See our comments about electronic pest control devices in general. The same comments apply here as well. Basically, none of the devices that use ultrasonic sound have worked in controlled trials.

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Jack DeAngelis, Ph.D.

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