When it comes to safeguarding our dogs against life-threatening diseases, a protection collar is the first line of defence. We have always used a Scalibor collar for our dogs, which has been effective so far in protecting them from pesky parasites in Portugal, such as fleas, ticks, sandflies and mosquitoes. However the Seresto collar is another available option. When you travel to a foreign destination with your cat or dog, it’s so important that you keep them safe from vector borne diseases. Here, we’ve detailed the benefits and differences with Scalibor Protector Band Collar for Dogs vs Seresto Tick & Flea Collar. You’ll also find the results of controlled scientific studies analysing the protection levels of each dog collar. Whichever you choose, always remember to buy your dog protection collars from your vet or a licensed retailer. There are many fake collars for sale online which contain ingredients that can be incredibly detrimental to your dog’s health.
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Why do Dogs need Protected from Ticks, Fleas, Mosquitoes and Sandflies
As well as being a nuisance to your pet, and causing them discomfort, these insects can also cause dangerous diseases. Here are just a few of the illnesses that ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and sandflies can transmit to your dog:
Sadly, both Heartworm and Leishmaniasis can be fatal, so a mosquito and sandfly dog protection collar is highly advisable. This is especially the case when you travel to a warm, coastal areas in Southern Europe, such as Portugal and Spain.
Be aware that the United Kingdom (Scotland, England, Wales & Northern Ireland), as well as Ireland, Finland, Malta and Norway require a Tapeworm Treatment for your dog within 1-5 days prior to arrival. This is to prevent any dogs infected with Tapeworm from spreading the disease.
Scalibor & Seresto Collars Active Ingredients
Both the Scalibor Protector Band Collar for Dogs and the Seresto Ticks & Flea Collar work by slowly releasing their specific active ingredients. As the active ingredients contained in each dog collar differ, there are pros and cons to consider for both the Scalibor and Seresto.
Scalibor Dog Collar for Ticks, Fleas, Mosquitoes & Sandflies
The Scalibor Dog Collar contains deltamethrin which works to repel and kill ticks, fleas and sandflies. It also has an anti-feeding effect on mosquitoes to prevent them from biting your pooch. The small collar contains 0.76g of deltamethrin and the large collar contains 1.0g of deltamethrin. Be aware that deltamethrin is harmful to cats, so if you also have a feline friend, don’t allow them to come into contact with the Scalibor Dog Collar.
While effective in protecting dogs against ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and sandflies, Scalibor Dog Collars are also harmful to aquatic life. So even though the Scalibor is waterproof, if your dog likes to be submerged in the ocean, please remove the collar before swimming.
Seresto Tick & Flea Collar
To repel ticks and fleas, Seresto Dog Collars contain two active ingredients:
- imidacloprid, which kills adult fleas and flea larvae
- flumethrin, which repels and kills all life stages of ticks
While Seresto Dog Collars don’t repel sandflies or mosquitoes, they do have an anti-feeding effect on sandflies. Subsequently, the Seresto Collar has been shown to reduce the risk of dogs catching Leishmaniasis from infected sandflies for 8 months.
Scalibor v Seresto Dog Collars – Pros & Cons
Here are the key benefits of Scalibor vs Seresto dog collars, in protecting your pooch against fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and sandflies, along with the differences between these two pooch protection bands.
| Scalibor Protector Band Collar | Seresto Tick and Flea Collar | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Up to 6 months for fleas, ticks and mosquitoes, and 12 months for exposure to the Leishmaniasis transmitting Phlebotomine Sandfly. | Up to 8 months for ticks and fleas. For dogs that swim once a month or more, the control duration is reduced to 5 months for flea control, and 7 months for tick control. |
| Manufacturer | MSD Animal Health (Merck Animal Health in USA & Canada) | Bayer Animal Health |
| Ticks | ✅ | ✅ |
| Fleas | ✅ | ✅ |
| Sandflies | ✅ | ❌ Note that while Seresto doesn’t claim to offer protection against Sandfly bites, it is now fully licensed to reduce the risk of Leishmaniasis for up to 8 months. |
| Mosquitoes | ✅ | ❌ |
| Waterproof | ✅ | ✅ |
| Reflector Clip | ❌ | ✅ |
| Vet Approved | ✅ | ✅ |
| Puppy Age | From 7 weeks old | From 7 weeks old |
| Efficacy | In studies carried out by *Scalibor®, indicated the collar has a repellent efficacy against the sandfly between 94% and 98% for 12 months. The effectiveness against ticks was an average of 93.6% until day 183 (6 months after the collar was placed). An anti-feeding effect greater than 98% was found against the adult Culex Pipiens mosquito over a 27 week period. | A study demonstrated that the Seresto collar was 94 – 100 % effective for repelling and killing ticks on dogs at 6 and 12 hours post-infestation. An additional study found the Seresto collar to be 97-100% effective in killing fleas. |
| Usage | The Scalibor collar should be applied to your dog one week before possible exposure to fleas, ticks, sandflies or mosquitoes. | Seresto kills fleas within 24 hours of application, and ticks within 48 hours of putting it on your dog. |
| Sizes | Available in two sizes – 48cm & 65cm | Available for dogs up to 8kg (18lb) and over 8kg |
| Price Range | €20-26 £20-26 $30-$36 | €25-30 £22-28 $32-$38 |
Whether you choose the Scalibor or Seresto Dog Collar to repel ticks, fleas, sandflies or mosquitoes,, remember to cover all bases when protecting your pet. And if you’re travelling internationally, be sure you’re up to date with the pet travel scheme regulations of your destination country.
