Dog and cat owners know tick and flea prevention is necessary for their furry friends, but what about goats?
Goats are also susceptible to flea and tick infestations, causing skin problems and other health issues.
One way to prevent fleas on goats is to use a flea collar. Flea collars offer long-lasting protection compared to other preventative measures. When choosing a flea collar for your goat, consider your goat’s age and how often animals and children come into contact with your goat.
Before putting a flea and tick collar on your goat, discuss flea prevention and treatment with your veterinarian to decide if a flea collar is the best solution for your goat.
Read on to learn more about how flea collars work, how safe they are, and best practices for using a collar for goats.
How Do Flea Collars Work?
There are two main goals of flea collars: prevention and treatment.
Flea collars meant to prevent fleas will stop them from attaching to your goat, but they will not kill any fleas already infesting your goat.
The other collar on goats will kill any fleas either coming into contact with or biting your goat.
This collar releases flea and tick repellent chemicals continually.
These chemicals are then spread through the animal’s natural hair, coat, and skin oils to offer long-lasting protection.
Different flea collars contain different chemicals with varying effectiveness and use cases.
There are also gas and natural flea collars available for animals with sensitive skin.
Most flea collars maintain their effectiveness for three months, with some newer collars protecting for up to eight months.
Many flea collars are water-resistant but not waterproof.
If the flea collar gets wet, it could shorten the time it is effective.
When deciding what type of flea collar to get, consider that different brands of flea collars work best in different scenarios depending on the chemical mixture used.
The best flea collars will kill both adult fleas and eggs, stopping the cycle of flea infestation.
Read customer reviews before purchasing the flea collar needed for your goat’s situation.
How Safe Are Flea Collars For Goats?
Flea collars are generally a safe and effective way to combat ticks and fleas, but they may not be the right solution for you if you have children or multiple goats.
A flea collar contains chemicals dangerous when ingested by humans or other animals.
It is important for anyone petting the goats to thoroughly wash their hands afterward, as the chemicals could pass to the hands and be potentially ingested.
You may also accidentally touch your eye and transfer the chemicals there.
Young children should not be left unsupervised around flea collars.
If one of your goats is chewing on another goat’s flea collar, immediately separate the goats or remove the collar.
Please note many goat owners have not had this problem with their notoriously nibbly pets.
Occasional collar contact or chewing is not harmful, but sustained chewing over time could cause sickness.
If one of your goats is chewing on another goat’s flea collar, immediately separate the goats or remove the collar.
A flea collar is often not suitable for use on pregnant or nursing goats, as this could present problems for the kid.
Another factor is the age of the goat.
A full-strength flea collar is not suitable for kids.
Choose a lower-strength flea collar for kids, such as a puppy flea collar.
Senior goats may also not be able to handle a full-strength flea collar.
Talk to your veterinarian before using a flea collar on very young kids or older goats.
As long as proper precautions are maintained, flea collars are safe for your goats.
Can You Use Dog Flea Treatment On Goats?
The two most common fleas infesting goats are Ctenocephalides felis and Echidnophaga gallinacea.
These also commonly infect dogs and cats, so the chemicals released from dog and cat flea collars prevent the same type of fleas.
The key difference between dog and cat flea collars is the chemical permethrin.
Since cats are particularly sensitive to this chemical, it is not used in flea collars for cats.
However, it is safe to use on goats and is one of the most common insecticides.
The other thing to consider is the right size tick collars.
Flea collars should be snug but not constricting.
A perfectly fitting collar can fit two fingers underneath it.
A flea collar meant for cats, or puppy tick collars will likely be too small.
Flea collars for dogs and other small animals come in multiple sizes.
Follow the guides on the packaging to determine what size is right for your goat.
After securing the flea collar, cut off any excess and throw it away.
Pairing a Flea Collar with Other Methods
Flea collars offer great protection, especially around the head and neck.
However, some studies have found oral, and spot-on treatments are more effective in overall protection from fleas.
These other treatments have the drawback of needing reapplication every 30 days.
If you live in an area with many fleas and ticks, you may want to combine a flea collar with a topical treatment during the height of flea season.
Always consult with your veterinarian to ensure your flea collar and choice of topical treatment may be used together.
You do not want to over-medicate your goat since this could produce side effects.
Before applying a topical treatment:
- Carefully remove any ticks.
- Use a flea comb to remove fleas.
- Thoroughly wash your goat with flea shampoo.
Reapply every 30 days.
Flea Collar Side Effects
After using a new product on your goat, it is always important to monitor for side effects.
Side effects from flea collars are rare, but they can happen.
Make sure to follow all warning and precautionary labels on the flea collar packaging to reduce the possibility of side effects.
Potential side effects include:
- Skin irritation
- Stomach or intestinal problems
- Nervous system effects
If your goat shows these symptoms or any other adverse effects, immediately remove the flea collar and consult your veterinarian.
Also, use mild soap and water to remove the chemicals from your goat’s skin.
After consulting with your veterinarian, switch to a different brand or even an all-natural flea collar like this one on Amazon.
