Dogs hate them. For good reason. They bite and are a constant nuisance.
Dog owners hate them for the exact same reasons.
Even if they don’t end up biting us, we hate that they make our dogs suffer. But they can bite us, too.
Luckily, there are plenty of good ways to get rid of fleas. The two most common are flea collars and drops, or other types of medication.
Which of the two is best depends on you and your dog.
Keep reading for a comparison of a flea collar vs drop. By the end, you should have a good idea which anti-flea product is the right one for you.
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Which Is Better: Flea Collar Or Drops?
There is no right or wrong when it comes to the best flea treatment for Yorkies, as long as it works well on your pup.
Probably more people prefer dog flea collars, because they can last for a few months. They are also an excellent alternative, if you are against using chemical drops that might have some other side effects.
Let’s take a look at each option in a little more depth, before going into a bit more info on fleas and how to deal with them in general.
Flea Collars
Flea collars work by releasing chemicals that repel fleas forever. There are two types of collars that treat a flea infestation.
The first type contains a medication that seeps into the fatty later on your Yorkie’s skin. It then spread all over the body. When a flea bites into your Yorkie’s body, the medication kills it.
The second type is a collar that emits an active ingredient that kills fleas instantly on contact. This means they die before they even have the opportunity to bite your pup.
Benefit Of Flea Collars
A lot of dog owners lean toward flea collars mainly because of convenience. They are easy to use, and no messy application is involved. You just put it around your Yorkie’s neck and let it wear the collar just like any other type of collar.
They are also less expensive than spot treatments and other oral medications. They provide longer protection than other medicines, too.
Most other medications last a maximum of 30 days. This means you have to replenish them regularly. And that means even more money spent. Flea collars can last for up to 8 months of usage.
There are some things to consider before deciding on flea collars, though. If you have young children, flea collars might not be a good idea. A young child might touch the collar, which could exposing it to harmful chemicals.
You also want to make sure you get the right size collar for your pet. Too tight and it can be uncomfortable and even cause damage. Too loose and it can fall off.
Flea Medications
Just as with collars, there are multiple options available for flea medications. Some medications repel the fleas, while others kill them. Some kill only the adults, while others kill any flea in any stage of their lifecycle. Some drops or pills need to be given monthly, while some are required every day.
Benefits Of Flea Medication
Some dog owners use flea medications, because they give fast results. They can kill existing fleas within 30 mins of being taken. They are proven to be safe and won’t interfere with anyone outside of your Yorkie.
Some medications kill all types of worms, ticks, and even ear mites. This gives you a wide range of prevention from other parasites.
When considering oral medications, you might have to find a way to hide it from your Yorkie. It is best to add them to the dog food or a treat, so you pup won’t notice. Some medications do have side effect, like an upset stomach, but they are usually very mild.
If your dog ends up vomiting, that is a good sign that it might not be the best medication for your Yorkie.
What Makes Fleas Dangerous To Your Yorkie?
Fleas are small microscopic parasites that bite and drink the blood of their host to survive. Fleas feast on cats, dogs, mice, rabbits, and anything else warm-blooded.
This includes humans, so you need to be careful with them.
One of the major problems with fleas is that they have a short lifecycle. This means that adult females can lay up to 40 eggs every day. Just a few fleas can turn into a severe flea infestation in only a day or two.
Prompt identification of the problem essential, if you want to stop the existing population from producing more parasites and skyrocketing.
Fleas can cause diseases, but they can also cause other problems, like skin infections. This happens when your Yorkie scratches a lot and opens up its skin. It leads to skin scabs that keep getting reopened and can easily get infected.
Spotting Fleas On Your Yorkie
There are many signs that will help you figure out if your Yorkie might have a flea infestation. There is a high probability that your Yorkie has fleas, if you see specs and movement in its hair.
Another giveaway is if your Yorkie is doing a lot of scratching. This means that it has something irritable on its skin. The most common culprit are fleas.
You can also tell if you see signs of irritation. There might be red patches everywhere on the skin. Too much scratching can also lead to bald patches on your Yorkie’s skin.
Sometimes a dog’s attitude toward you, and other people, also changes. They become more agitated.
If you observe these signs, the next step is for you to groom your Yorkie. It is an excellent way to check and a great way to eliminate some of the fleas that are present.
When you use a comb, there might be some black specs coming from their coat. These aren’t flea, but they are the remnants of fleas. If you add water to these specs and it turns reddish, then it is very likely to be fleas.
Flea Prevention
The good news is that you can get rid of the fleas. Many scientists and manufacturers have teamed up to come up with multiple solution to kill fleas and keep them from spreading.
The two options discussed above, flea collars and flea drops or other types of medication are the most popular options for keeping your Yorkie safe from irritation and potentially dangerous parasites.
Flea Collar Vs Drops: Conclusion
Before considering any dog flea treatment, you should first try to introduce a good grooming routine to your Yorkie. Good grooming can prevent fleas. At the very least, it can help you identify fleas in their early stages, in time to prevent a major infestation.
Always discuss your options with your vet to find the latest treatment possible. Once you have the treatment worked out for your Yorkie, stick to that plan, and you won’t have to worry about any more flea infestations.
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