Border Collies and fleas — how to handle it? This tandem often buds in the spring. When the ice melts, ectoparasites come forth from their secret hideouts and wait for an opportunity to hop onto our pets. As summer approaches and temperatures continue to rise, the infestations worsen.
Unfortunately, these tiny bloodsuckers don’t just leave your dog with a temporary itch. Fleas and ticks also carry pathogens, increasing your dog’s risk to develop certain infections, some of which can be shared with humans.
Therefore, you’ll need to nip the problem in the bud, but how do you get rid of fleas on a Border Collie? In this article, I will share the best methods to treat fleas and ticks. So, read on!
Best Flea Products for Border Collies
Border Collies have a long history as farm dogs. Their love for the great outdoors increases their chances of acquiring freeloaders along the way. Hence, I suggest you add one of the following products to your pet care arsenal.
Frontline Plus
Frontline Plus is the best flea and tick treatment for the outdoor-loving Border Collie. Featuring the combined abilities of Fipronil and S-Methoprene, it aims to eliminate a flea and tick infestation once and for all.
Fipronil is a fast-acting insecticide that disrupts the nerve receptors of adult fleas and ticks. While it might take up to 12 hours to eradicate ticks, you can expect your collie to be 100% flea-free within four hours or less.
S-methoprene, on the other hand, interferes with the normal development of the remaining eggs, larva, and pupa. Additionally, Fipronil is a broad-spectrum insecticide; thus, it kills many other bugs upon contact, including ants, lice, mites, and mosquitoes.
Is Frontline safe for Border Collies? Yes, Frontline is safe if you administer the appropriate dose on your dog’s nape; otherwise, he could ingest the chemicals.
Moreover, the active compounds do not penetrate the deep layers of the skin and neither do they enter the bloodstream. The flea medicine is assimilated into the lipid layer and the natural oils circulate it throughout the entire skin.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) declared that the chemicals are safe for veterinary applications without the risk to pet owners. If you get some of the product on your skin, you’ll only need to wash it off with soap and water.
That said, Front Plus is the best flea medicine for dogs without a vet prescription, and it is the only one I trust.
Pros
👍 Eliminates all adult fleas and ticks within 24 hours
👍 Ends a full-blown infestation by ending the growth activity of immature fleas and ticks
👍 Targets a wide range of external parasites, including sarcoptic mange, chewing lice, mosquitoes, etc.
👍 Retains its efficacy up to a month
Cons
👎 You’ll have to wait 24 hours before you can bathe your dog
👎 Expensive
Bayer Seresto Flea & Tick Collar for Dogs
I recommend a medicated collar if you don’t like spot-on treatments for some reason. The Bayer Seresto Flea & Tick Collar features the combined power of imidacloprid and flumethrin. These actives are proven effective to kill adult fleas within 24 hours and 48 hours for ticks.
Moreover, the active ingredients are incorporated in the slow-release matrix collar to provide your collie up to eight months of protection. As such, it guarantees that there won’t be a recurring flea or tick infestation within that period.
Pros
👍 Eliminates adult fleas and ticks within 48 hours
👍 Prevents recurring infestations up to 8 months
👍 Easy to put on, greaseless, and water-resistant
👍 Does not emit offensive odors
Cons
👎 Sensitive pooches may develop rashes around the neck
👎 Expensive
Zoecon Precor 2000 Plus Premise Spray
You’ll want to include a flea spray in your arsenal should you wish to win your battle against bloodthirsty fleas and ticks. The Zoecon Precor 2000 Plus Premise Spray is a fantastic choice for the job.
This spray contains 0.350% permethrin and 0.300% phenothrin to give fleas and ticks a sure death blow. Likewise, 0.085% of the formula comprises the insect growth regulator, S-methoprene.
As the name suggests, the 16-ounce bottle can cover 2000 square feet. My only gripe is that the spray smells like WD-40; however, it goes away once you air out your home.
Pros
👍 Kills fleas and ticks of all life stages, including those hiding from hard-to-reach areas and underneath carpets
👍 A single application provides your home 7 months of protection
👍 Reasonably priced and provides up to 2000 square feet coverage
Cons
👎 You’ll want to prevent your dog from entering the home until the chemical smells dissipate
Natural Home Remedies for Fleas
As a rule, the best way to get rid of fleas and ticks is by using spot-on products. But if chemical-based treatments are an undesirable concept, then you’ll want to try these natural home remedies for fleas.
💧🛁 Dishwashing Liquid
It may surprise you, but you can use Dawn Dish Soap as a temporary fix for your dog’s flea problem. Dishwashing liquid, particularly the said brand, produces long-lasting soapsuds that loosen fleas from the skin and hold them in suspension until they are rinsed away.
The fact that it does not harm avian and marine life also means it is gentle enough for puppies. However, you don’t want this to be Doggo’s new go-to shampoo, as it can strip the natural oils of his skin.
🌸🍃 Essential Oils
Whenever people ask, “What to do if you have fleas in your house?” Along with regular vacuuming, I would always tell them to keep their homes smelling great by diffusing essential oils. Holistic veterinarians also recommend them. The best choices are: cedarwood, citronella, lavender, peppermint, and rosemary.
Diffusing essential oils is a safe and effective way of deterring fleas, according to the Animal Poison Control Center (ACPP). However, you’ll want to “pet-proof” the location of the diffuser. Essential oils are still dangerous to pets in their saturated form; you don’t want to take the chance.
Nevertheless, you may want to avoid using a diffuser if one of your dogs has a history of breathing problems.
🌊💦 Seawater
Lastly, the best way to get rid of fleas on a dog is to spend a day on the beach. The salt in seawater dehydrates these pesky critters. Fortunately, Border Collies like to swim, so you won’t have to coax your dog to get into the water.
If you live far from the ocean, you can replicate seawater by mixing ¼ cup of table salt with every 40 gallons of warm water. Soak Doggo in the tub for at least 15 minutes then bathe him as you normally do. Repeat this every two days until your pooch has become flea-free.
Conclusion
Fleas are the bane of pet ownership, and ticks are equally frustrating to deal with, too. These pests can cause several diseases that not only affect your canine companion, but the entire family to boot. Therefore, you should not take fleas and ticks lightly.
So far, the best way to handle a flea and tick infestation in Border Collies is to use flea drops. But if you frown upon the use of chemical actives, there are time-tested natural methods you can try.