It’s not at all uncommon for pet owners to spot a flea or two in their furry friend’s coat. Sometimes the animal will scratch a lot, too showing distress and anxiety. This, however, is not the worst thing about bloodsucking parasites such as fleas and ticks.
If you look at the list of diseases from fleas, you’ll realize the importance of adequate flea control for people with pets. Ticks are also notorious for carrying a number of dangerous illnesses, such as Lyme disease, and require action.
Of all the treatments that exist for bloodsuckers in pets, collars are probably the most time-efficient and easy-to-use. In my Adams Flea and Tick Collar Review below, I’ll tell you about the pros and cons of one of the most popular models available.
Adams Flea and Tick Collar Review
Specifications:
- Water-Resistant
- Age Range Description: Puppy
- Item Weight: 0.05 Pounds
- Product Dimensions LxWxH: 0.88 x 4.25 x 4.13 inches
- Target Pests: Fleas, Ticks, Flea Eggs and Flea Larvae
Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Adams is one of the leaders in pet care across the United States. The company has been active for over three decades now, offering a wide range of parasite control products.
Adams Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs is advertised as a fast-acting flea and tick remedy for canines. Like most products in the category, it is essentially a strip of water-resistant material with a pesticide formula built into it for gradual release over time to kill and repel parasites when placed around a pet’s neck.
Effectiveness
Loaded with 14.55% tetrachlorvinphos, an organophosphate insecticide commonly used against fleas, ticks, lice, insect larvae, and more, Adams Flea and Tick Control Collar For Dogs is expected to rid your pet of fleas for 7 months, while with ticks only partial help is promised after 5 months.
According to the manufacturer’s website, this product starts to act immediately, but it normally takes it several days to reach its full potency.
Although not completely ineffective, I’ve found this collar inferior to similar products in killing parasites. In fact, it never reached a point where no fleas could be seen at all.
The product thus scored only 2.5/5 for effectiveness.
Price
Cost is one strong advantage of this Adams collar. Similar items that are twice and more expensive are common on the market. With a price of well under ten dollars, it’s safe to say that this product won’t break your budget. It, therefore, receives 5/5 for price.
Ease of Use
The application procedure consists of putting the collar around your dog’s neck and tightening it for a snug fit with about two fingers of space between the collar and the animal’s coat. Occasional re-fitting might be necessary, especially if you have a puppy that’s growing fast. Plus, it requires a lot of hand washing (see below) and has a strong chemical smell.
Ease of use score: 4/5.
Safety
Possible Adams Flea and Tick Collar side effects include allergic reactions and irritation, which are more common and severe than desired. The label specifies that puppies under 12 weeks of age mustn’t be treated with this collar.
It’s also harmful to humans in that it shouldn’t come into contact with your eyes, skin, or even clothes. The latter makes it very inconvenient to use around children, and you’ll have to be extra careful when playing with your pet.
This said, the safety score is 2.5/5.
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Overall product score: 3.5
Buyer’s Guide
The key aspects to consider when shopping for a flea collar is your animal type (cat or dog) and age (or bodyweight). While some products are meant to fit both felines and canines, I recommend using specialized solutions. With Adams, this should be the product under review for dogs.
Cat owners should consider Adams Plus Flea and Tick Collar for Cats as a budget-friendly alternative that’s also enhanced with (S)-Methoprene, an insect growth regulator used alongside tetrachlorvinphos for increased effectiveness. I find this formula more successful in dealing with massive flea infestations in felines than the dog version does for dogs.
Specifications:
- Water-Resistant
- Age Range Description: Adult
- Item Weight: 0.03 Pounds
- Product Dimensions LxWxH: 0.88 x 4.25 x 5.13 inches
- Target Pests: Fleas, Ticks, Flea Eggs and Flea Larvae
Alternative Products
Since the Adams hasn’t proven particularly effective and doesn’t seem to be the safest option when it comes to flea control, I believe it worthwhile to dwell on a couple of competitor products that I find more fit for purpose.
Adams Flea Collar vs Seresto
Specifications:
- Active Ingredients: Flumethrin* 4.5%, Imidacloprid 10.0% (*Trans Z-1/trans Z-2 Ratio: max 66% trans Z-1 and min 34% trans Z-2)
- Age Range Description: All Life Stages
- Item Weight: 2.08 Ounces
- Product Dimensions LxWxH: 4.75 x 4.75 x 1.5 inches
- Target Pests: Flea, Tick
Seresto, a flea collar by the famous Bayer pharmaceutical company, has a much weightier price tag than Adams. However, you might prefer it over the product under review if you are dealing with heavy flea and tick infestation since it’s a highly effective parasite control solution based on a combination of imidacloprid (10%) and flumethrin (4.5%), pesticides of different origins that both act on the insect’s nervous system to cause death.
Its greatest advantage is that the formula exterminates existing fleas in under 24 hours, after which it takes only about 120 minutes to deal with any new unwanted visitors. The effect lasts as long as 8 months with no need to replace the collar unless you bathe your dog more than once a month due to Bayer’s sustained release technology.
Apart from superior effectiveness and quick action, Seresto causes less severe irritation, when it does, and side effects are generally rarer than with Adams.
Adams Flea Collar vs Rolf Club 3D
Specifications:
- Water-Resistant
- Age Range Description: Puppy
- Item Weight: 0.02 Pounds
- Product Dimensions LxWxH: 11 x 8 x 0.9 inches
- Target Pests: Flea, Tick
Although less ambitious in terms of prevention period, Rolf Club 3D can be a viable alternative to Adams that won’t hurt your budget as much as Seresto (see above). Apart from keeping away fleas and ticks, this collar deals with a range of common pet parasites.
Allergic reaction and mild irritation have been reported, but this is almost inevitable with any pesticide-based product, and the general quality-price ratio is very good. Most importantly, it really lasts as much as it’s expected to (4 months).
FAQ on Adams Flea and Tick Collar
Here you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about Adams Flea and Tick Collar and its effectiveness.
Related Post: Best Flea Sprays for Pets & Home Treatment
How Efficient Is Adams Flea and Tick Collar?
While helpful in preventing minor to moderate flea infestations, the product takes longer than average to start acting and doesn’t remain effective as much as it should. Besides, it might turn out inadequate as a solo treatment where flea problem is really severe, especially during the flea season. Chances are high that you’ll still see your furry friend scratching and chewing itself every once in a while.
Is Adams Safe for Humans to Touch?
Like all products containing pesticides, this flea collar can cause allergic reactions in certain individuals, pets and humans alike. The manufacturer also specifies that you should wash your hands with soap every time after touching the collar and avoid contact with clothes as well as exposed skin. Eye contact is potentially harmful and requires immediate medical attention.
How Long Does It Take for a Flea Collar to Work?
The short answer is it depends. Some factors that determine the waiting period are what pesticides are included in the formula and which release technology is used. According to the Adams website, the collar might need several days to reach its full potency, while Seresto claims to kill all existing fleas within 24 hours after it’s put on.
Adams Flea Collar: Final Verdict
While definitely a money-saving option, I’ve found this flea and tick control product by Adams to be inferior to other solutions on the market in several respects.
Most importantly, it only shows mediocre effectiveness where fleas are numerous and the risk of re-infestation is high, also taking relatively long to act. Apart from a subpar performance in the above setting, the dog flea collar does not appear to be a safe enough option. Severe skin reactions have been observed with it, and its potential to harm humans makes it less usable as compared to similar formulations.
Adams Flea Collar might be a decent solution if you’re seeking to keep fleas and ticks in check on a budget, but my recommendation is that you invest in a safer and more effective flea treatment if possible.
Have you already tried any flea collars? If yes, which brands? You’re very welcome to share your impressions in the comments sections.
References:
- Diseases from fleas (King Country):
https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/communicable-diseases/zoonotic/facts-resources/diseases-by-animal/fleas.aspx - Tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP) (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency):
https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/tetrachlorvinphos-tcvp - Flea & Tick Control Collar for Dogs (Adams):
https://www.adamspetcare.com/products/pet/flea-and-tick-control-collar-for-dogs
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