Electronic Flea Collar:The Latest but is it the Greatest?

Flea and tick season is in full swing!!

It's that time of year when pet owners make a mad dash to pet stores for some form of prevention, protection or treatment against those pesky parasites just waiting to take a bite out of your pet's outdoor enjoyment.

No need to get buggy!

There's a number of flea control products available from herbal remedies to topical or orally-administered products such as Advantix, Frontline Plus, and K9 Advantage. And now a high tech solution has got many pet owners buzzing -- Electronic Flea Collars. These collars emit powerful high pitched or ultrasonic pulses that claim to repel all insects and spiders and prevent them from biting and breeding on a cat or dog. Apparently they are inaudible and harmless to pets and humans however, fleas go crazy and jump off. The question is do they actually work?

ThePetRemedy.com talked to some pet owners about the electronic flea collar at a local dog park in West Los Angeles. Here's what they said;

"I heard about it recently from my groomer. She didn't recommend it. I don't use any electronics on my dog. My dog is my son. I'm not for it, " Tisa Fowlke.

"I would try it. Don't like too many chemicals on my pet. Willing to try something if it's more efficient," Om Keith.

While electronic flea collars may appeal to pet owners concerned about topical chemical treatments, there's little scientific data to substantiate that these electronic collars actually perform as claimed.

"Electronic flea killers are nice but not thorough. Fleas are susceptible to the high frequencies, but ticks aren't bothered by it. It's a good idea in areas that don't have ticks," said Sean Gerson, Veterinarian, ThePetRemedy.com.

Entomologists and other researchers have determined that these ultrasonic collars have shown to be as ineffective as the previous generation of traditional chemical flea collars, as fleas have not been proven to be sensitive to ultrasonic sound waves. There are positive reviews and testimonials found on manufacturers sites touting the benefits of the collar. It appears that customer testimonials are used as selling points for their product. Before making a final decision, it's best to consult your pets Vet as to the best form of treatment for your best friend. Average price of an electronic flea collar runs from $15-$30. For the money, you might want to take it for a test drive.