Why I Built This Site
I started FleaCollarGuide.com because my clients kept asking me the same question in different ways: "Which flea collar should I actually buy?" And when I looked at what was ranking on the first page of Google, I was frustrated. Most of it was written by people who had clearly never used the products, never seen a flea-infested dog in real life, and had no idea that a collar labeled "waterproof" and a collar that actually holds its efficacy through weekly swimming are two different things.
I've been in practice for eleven years. I've used, recommended, and watched fail every major flea prevention product on the market. That knowledge felt like something I should share—so I did.
My Background
I graduated from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2015. Before that, undergraduate biology at Boston University, with a focus on parasitology. I've been practicing in small animal medicine in the Boston area since graduation, currently at a mixed practice where I see around 20 patients a day—about half of them dogs.
Parasite prevention is genuinely one of the most common clinical conversations I have. Not because it's exotic, but because it's misunderstood. The marketing around flea products is aggressive and often misleading, and clients don't have a good way to evaluate the competing claims. That's the gap I'm trying to fill here.
How I Test Products
Everything on this site is based on one of two things: direct observation in my practice, or structured testing I conduct myself. For the comparison guides, I test collars on a rotating group of 10-15 dogs over 6-month periods, tracking flea counts, skin reactions, water exposure outcomes, and owner-reported observations.
I cross-reference against EPA regulatory data, peer-reviewed literature where it exists (it's thinner than you'd hope), and the adverse event reports that manufacturers file with the EPA. The recall page is updated quarterly from primary sources.
I don't accept free products from manufacturers in exchange for reviews. I buy everything I test, or it comes from consenting clients. The only money this site makes is from Amazon affiliate commissions—disclosed on every page—which don't influence what I recommend.
Transparency & Conflicts of Interest
Affiliate links: This site contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Commission rates do not influence product rankings—Hartz actually pays higher affiliate rates than Seresto, and I still rank Seresto first because it's the better product.
No manufacturer relationships: I have no paid relationships, consulting arrangements, or sponsorships with Hartz, Elanco (Seresto), or any other pet product company.
Not a substitute for your vet: This site gives general guidance. Your dog is an individual. If your dog has a history of seizures, skin allergies, or is on other medications, talk to your own veterinarian before changing parasite prevention.
What I Actually Believe About Flea Collars
Flea collars are a legitimate, underutilized tool. They're not glamorous—oral chewables get more vet attention because the pharma rep brings lunch—but a well-chosen collar provides continuous, low-maintenance protection that most pet owners actually stick to. Compliance matters more than pharmacology in the real world.
That said: no flea collar is right for every dog, and the marketing around some of them is genuinely misleading. A collar rated "7 months" that loses half its efficacy after two baths is not a 7-month collar for a dog that swims. I try to say the things that the product pages won't.
If you have a question I haven't answered somewhere on this site, the contact page is real and I do read it. I can't give individual medical advice, but I can point you toward the right questions to ask your own vet.