The Facts About Hartz Flea and Tick Collars

Hartz flea and tick collars are effective in protecting your pet from fleas, ticks and mosquitoes, and the harmful diseases these insects carry.

Hartz flea and tick collars are effective in protecting your pet from fleas, ticks and mosquitoes, and the harmful diseases these insects carry.
You may wonder: how do these collars protect my pet from disease? The answer is they kill and repel the insects carrying these diseases before they bite and infect your pet, effectively keeping these diseases out of your home.

All flea and tick collars for dogs and cats, including those manufactured by Hartz, must be registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA registration numbers can be found on all Hartz flea and tick products, along with the EPA-establishment number, which tells you where the product was made, and a production lot number, which allows for precise tracing of the product once on the market.

All flea and tick collars, including those manufactured by Hartz, must be registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Dog wearing a flea and tick collar.
All flea and tick collars, including those manufactured by Hartz, must be registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

What is the registration process? 
The registration process begins with product development, and winds its way through extensive screening and testing, culminating  with the submission to the EPA.  The EPA reviews and confirms the formulation ingredients, chemistry toxicology and safety as against the frequency and timing of the product’s intended use, and then the EPA grants the registration.  The registration process, however, does not stop there. After federal registration, the product, its label and data must then be submitted for a second review and registration by pesticide licensing authority in each state where the product is expected to be sold, which allows Hartz to offer this product with confidence and pride throughout the country.

The EPA requires all flea and tick collars for dogs and cats, including those manufactured by Hartz, to undergo efficacy studies for their effectiveness in controlling fleas, ticks and mosquitoes, and safety testing to confirm that, even if misused (applied at five times the concentration), the collar will not harm you or your pet.

All EPA regulated flea and tick collars undergo efficacy tests before they can be registered. These tests include insect testing of the collar for the labeled duration per the label instructions to ensure the product performs as described and marketed.  The testing standards are the same for all EPA registered collars, with the only difference being the duration of time the collar is tested.  The Hartz ProMax collars containing deltamethrin as the active adulticide, and have been tested for performance for 6 months, as stated on the label.

ProMax flea and tick collars for dogs kill and repel insects carrying diseases before they bite and infect your pet. 

Dogs wearing Hartz ProMax flea and tick collars for dogs playing in the tall grass.
ProMax flea and tick collars kill and repel insects carrying diseases before they bite and infect your pet.

All efficacy testing is performed by independent outside laboratories under strict  flea, tick and mosquito protocols under Good Laboratory Practices, which are subject to inspection by the EPA and/or state governments.  The collar is required to perform to a standard of over 90% insect reduction at each tested time interval for the full 6 months of testing.

This government performance standard is the same standard for all flea and tick collars including those available at your veterinarian.

Once a flea and tick collar is approved by the EPA, it undergoes a second round of reviews at the state level before it can be sold at any type of retail outlet, most veterinarian and on ecommerce.

How are these products made/manufactured?

Hartz UltraGuard ProMax collars are injection molded; the one-piece design provides a comfort fit, secure stay-in-place design, with dual buckle technology, and they come in different colors.  So, contrary to popular belief, the best flea and tick collar may not be the collar available from the veterinarian but the collar available at your retail outlet or via ecommerce.  

All flea and tick collars have been registered by the EPA and reviewed by the states and undergo the same high standards for safety and efficacy. So, purchasing a collar product from a veterinarian does not imply the vet product performs better, or is less harmful, than the Hartz flea and tick collar.

All flea and tick collar manufacturers are required by law to report any and all claims of adverse reactions related to the use of their products, to the EPA. Additionally, consumers can report adverse reactions to the National Pesticide Information Center. The information is available from EPA’s Freedom of Information Office.

An adverse reaction, as defined by the EPA, can range from property damage to human or animal injury. Flea and tick collar manufacturers are required by law to report to the EPA all claims they receive of adverse reactions related to the use of their products. The EPA advises all pet owners to report adverse events to the product manufacturer, using the phone number provided on the product.  The EPA monitors company product reports for trends and issues, and may request additional labeling to reduce adverse effects.

How Hartz Flea & Tick collars work?

When applied as directed, Hartz collars can be worn confidently and comfortably. 

  • Hartz flea and tick collars are non-systemic.
  • The active ingredients in the collar are dispersed and move across the entire  pet using the sebum (natural skin oils).  In the process the collar not only initially treats your pet, but has a reservoir which continues to slowly release adulticide protecting your pet for 6 months from fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes and the harmful diseases these insects harbor. Importantly, the Hartz collar acts as a repellant and kills fleas and ticks on contact as well, before these insects can take a blood meal from your pet, which can release serious diseases into your pet’s body. 
  • As with all tick and flea treatments, a small percentage of animals may be sensitive to some products. Most of these reactions appear within 24 hours and tend to be mild and temporary, and can usually be resolved by removing the collar and bathing with mild soap. If the symptoms persist, the pet should be taken to your veterinarian as soon as possible.

At Hartz, we are committed to providing the latest science to effectively control fleas, ticks and mosquitoes and to prevent them from biting or infesting pets and their surroundings. We believe in affordable flea and tick prevention for every pet. This is why Hartz® Flea & Tick products are broadly available in your local stores. Convenience and affordability with uncompromised quality.  This has been our ongoing mission for the past 94 years.