#Seresto Review-Why Should You Worry About Fleas and Ticks?

Fleas and ticks. They are blood suckers, make you itch and freak pet parents out when they find them on their pets. Did you know they can wreck havoc on your health and your pawents health?  

This post is sponsored by Bayer / Seresto and the Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the Seresto product, but I, Carma Poodale , only shares information I feel is relevant to my readers. Bayer / Seresto is not responsible for the content of this article. I use the Seresto Collar.

First off let's talk facts about flea and ticks. 

Flea Facts:

Fleas can live up to a year in a half if they have a blood source.

They can live up to 100 days without a host

. 

Flea eggs can remain dormant in your carpet for up to a year. 

You can unknowingly bring fleas home by them hitching a ride on your clothing.

Tick Facts:

Ticks can locate their host by detecting a blood source from body odor, body heat, vibrations and shadows.

Ticks use well used paths to wait to get on their hosts. 

Ticks will feed on humans, mammals, reptiles, birds blood.

 As long as there is blood a tick is not choosy on what source it finds. 

Ticks have 4 stages of life.

Fleas and ticks spread diseases and ailments. Fleas can affect pets and HUMANS

with tapeworms and other parasites. Heavy infestation can cause blood loss

which results in anemia.They were the source for the Bubonic Plague!!

 Ticks can spread Lyme's ,Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Heartland Virus and more tick borne diseases. The Heartland virus has been found in 8 cases in Missouri and Tennessee. 

With illnesses that can be spread by fleas and ticks with just a bite, shouldn't you be thinking about how to protect your pets and yourself from pest?  

Our choice is the Seresto collar. 

We don't have to worry if we got our treatments, if they are late or did ma forget if she already gave us a treatment and she is wanting to treat us again. 

I have been wearing the Seresto collar off and on for over 2 years. I was selected to be on a Beta Testing Panel, along with a select few other bloggers in October of 2012 and I started wearing the collar the end of November. The collar was about to be released to the US market. You can read the review that I did about the collar in this post -> Seresto Flea/Tick Collar Review. It has been one of my most popular post due to it newly being reviewed. As you see by the photo below, I was still very new to blogging and having my photo taken for review purposes. BOL!  

  I am on my 3rd collar. I will confess that for a few months inbetween collars, we did use the Advantage as our pest protection ,it is also made by Bayer. 

Seresto collars are flea/tick protection that lasts for up to 8 mths. The length of the protection is judged by how often you bathe or swim. Just like topical flea/tick protection , it last longer for some and less for others.

When I first started wearing the collar I was getting baths more frequently. I was getting bathed weekly. Whenever I was bathed , Ma would remove the collar just like she would my regular collar. After I was dried my collars were then put back on. This caused the collar to re-release its ingredients which would suck a little more life out of it faster.

I will say my first collar lasted me about 6 months. After I had the 45 Seborrhea Cysts and 3 suspicious cyst removed, I was getting bathed less often. I wasn't getting smelly like I was before the cyst removal. The second collar lasted me almost the full 8 months. I only get bathed two times a month now.

Well, that is unless I roll in something stinky. Yes, I like to roll on stinky things. I really like that horsey poo at the Humane Society. 

It Smells GOOD to me. 

Seresto collars do not have to be removed whenever your dog is swimming or getting a bath. Ma removed mine out of habit of removing my collar. 

Now I know you are asking what is in the Seresto collar that makes it work. 

Imidacloprid -this stops the nervous  system to stop working in pest but has no effects on a pets nervous system.Its toxic to insects but is safe to use on pets and at small doses can be safe for birds.

Flumethrin-  is a pyrethroid insecticide. It is used externally in veterinary medicine against parasitic insects and ticks on cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and dogs.

Together these two ingredients work to keep fleas and ticks off you your pet.

How does Seresto work? 

When you apply the collar, the ingredients are slowly released when the collar makes contact with skin. As the ingredients release they are spread throughout the body. When using the  topical applications, you place the drops between the shoulder blades. With Seresto the ingredients are released around the neck and travels throughout the body. Seresto uses different ingredients than other collars as described up above. The collar has infused caplets that slowly release the ingredients. You can squeeze the collar and it will not lose its contents. 

Fleas will disappear in 24 hours and ticks within 48 hrs. Complete protection is achieved after 72 hours and it repels fleas and ticks. 

Is it safe to use? 

Yes! There are some warning such as do not allow a child to play with the collar. The reflectors are small and can pose a choking hazard. Also be aware that if your pet has had other reactions to flea medications that there is a chance they can have one to the seresto collar. If you are allergic to either ingredient , it is not recommended to use.

Can dogs with a lot of fur use Seresto? 

YES! Even fluffy or thick coated dogs can be protected. It is recommended that the hair be parted or lifted up when putting the collar on. You want the collar to be against the skin but two fingers fit under the collar comfortably. 

Can cats use the Seresto collar and is it safe?

YES! Seresto makes the kitty collars with the breakaway feature. If your kitty gets caught on something it will break the collar just as if the kitty had on a regular cat collar. The ingredients are safe for kitties too. 

In some cases, heavy flea infestation may take longer to control. The collar will protect the dog or cat but it could take up to 72 hrs. Especially if your home has fleas or eggs that are trying to reinfect your pet. You will need to treat your home if the infestation occurs there. Wash pets bedding, vacuum throughly and get along baseboards and under throw rugs. Vacuuming can remove 60-75% of the eggs laid in your carpet. 

Seresto received the 2014 Better Home and Garden New Best Product award voted by Consumers.  

One of the features I love about this collar is after it is put on, I don't have to stay off the furniture. With my topical treatments I am not allowed on the furniture for at least 3 -4 hours because I have to wait for it to absorb and dry. With this collar , I can jump on the couch and take my nap while the collar goes to work.

Wondering where you can buy a Seresto collar? You can search their find Seresto near you Link, they are also available online at places like Amazon and soon you will be able to purchase from K9 Carry All. 

You can visit PetParents to learn more about Seresto collars.

I give the Seresto collar 4 paws rating.

 We have not had a flea or tick since we have been using it. We have not had any reactions to the ingredients. 

Ma trust this collar and has seen good results. 

So what do you use for your flea/tick protection? Would you consider using the Seresto collar or do you already use it? How have your results been? 

I would love to hear what you have to say! 

• This post is sponsored by Bayer / Seresto and the Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the Seresto product, but I, Carma Poodale , only shares information I feel is relevant to my readers. Bayer / Seresto is not responsible for the content of this article. I use the Seresto Collar.