A herbal dog collar uses natural     products to help your dog be flea    free!

 

A herbal dog collar is a collar impregnated with certain natural oils (extracted from herbs, flowers and wood), such as eucalyptus, citronella, cedar wood, lemon grass, rosemary and marigold. Its main application and claim to fame, apart from making your dog smell nice, is that it can also deter fleas and ticks in a safe and natural manner. It is because of this dual use that the herbal dog collar is also referred to as a flea dog collar and/or a scent dog collar.

 

The collar basically allows herbal essences to be progressively released from the collar onto the dog's coat to discourage the likes of fleas and ticks from inhabiting the dog. Using a herbal collar can also provide relief from flies that may swarm around your dog’s head at certain times of the year. The collars also generate a pleasant aroma, which leaves your pet smelling fresh and clean.

 

Herbal collars will generally last for approximately 3 months and after this time the collars are replaced or refreshed by the application of the appropriate additional natural oils.

 

Fleas are a danger to dogs as they can cause allergic dermatitis, and tapeworms, for example. Most of the eggs are not laid on the dog but in the dog’s bedding, rugs and carpets, and on furniture. If a dog is already infested, the dog and its surroundings can be also treated in a complementary manner using a combination of natural sprays, powders, drops and shampoos.

 

A good quality herbal dog collar is considered by some to be safer for dogs because it contains no potentially cancer-causing pesticides or  essential oils that may be toxic. Some pesticide opponents assert that whilst the toxic poisons and insecticides in most commercial flea collars will probably kill fleas and ticks, questions arise as to what else they do to pets and the environment. There are concerns that pets could be inhaling toxic fumes or become severely irritated by the toxic chemicals in these collars. An example often quoted on the dangers of pesticides is that they can contain toxic organophosphates, the chemicals used in sheep dips and implicated in Gulf War Syndrome. Safer chemical products are available that contain insect growth regulators which stop flea eggs from hatching, but again, some pesticide objectors claim these have also been known to have side effects in pets (such as vomiting and diarrhoea). It would also appear that fleas are very good at mutating to resist new pesticides.

 

Whilst a herbal dog collar is claimed to be safer, it is always worthwhile checking for any manufacturers warnings that come with the collar. For example, some herbal collars are not recommended for use around pregnant pets and young puppies. Additionally, if you choose a collar that can be refreshed ensure that essential oils do not get into your pets eyes or directly onto their skin, plus, also avoid using citronella if you have cats as they can be sensitive to citrus. Also check whether the herbal collar is to be used in conjunction with the dog's normal collar (such as the traditional collar) or can it be used on its own.