A hot ongoing topic for dog owners is the defense against parasites. Ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and other blood-sucking parasites love our four-legged friends as hosts for feeding and laying larvae. They can transmit serious pathogens such as Lyme disease, babesiosis or anaplasmosis. Tick collars can help to ward off disease-causing bloodsuckers. Amber necklaces for dogs, which are said to protect against parasites, have also been on the market for many years. But what effect does an amber necklace actually have on the dog?
What is amber?
Basically, amber is not actually a stone, but petrified, fossilized resin from pine, spruce or other coniferous trees. Even today, resin is a metabolic product that the tree uses to close wounds. Therefore it is not so unusual that inclusions such as ants, flies or leaves can be found in amber. In primeval times, large amounts of resin sank into the water. Under high pressure and the exclusion of air, it turned into amber over the course of several million years. Resin/amber consists mostly of turpentine and rosin. Amber is a collective term for all fossil resins older than one million years.
Today you can find the beautiful stones on the beaches of the German and Baltic Sea coasts, which were densely overgrown with coniferous forests in primeval times. The natural amber is available in shades of cream, honey yellow, red, reddish brown to brown. Its transparency ranges from clear to opaque. But be careful when collecting, because amber can easily be confused with the yellowish phosphorus lumps from the Second World War, which unfortunately are still washed up on the beaches from the depths of the Baltic Sea.
Due to its low hardness and lightness, amber is easy to work with and a popular material in the jewelry industry. Amber becomes brittle when exposed to UV rays. Oxygen and drought also cause it to weather “quickly”.
What do amber necklaces do for dogs?
There is no scientific evidence of any effectiveness against ticks and parasites.
Amber necklace for the dog – application
The amber necklace is placed around the dog’s neck in addition to the collar or harness. Like a collar, the chain should be neither too tight nor too loose. Two fingers should still fit between the neck and chain. So that the dog cannot choke or injure itself when it races into the bushes and then gets stuck, you should make sure when you buy it that there is a predetermined breaking point that then tears open. The amber necklace can be worn in any weather. The fur nose can also go swimming in the water with it.
Aside from the fashion aspect, amber necklaces for dogs are also touted and sold as a chemical-free repellent against ticks, fleas, and other parasites.
Whether as a cut and polished stone or as an untreated stone on a dog chain, each supplier runs his own marketing on the alleged effect of amber against parasites.
How is the amber necklace worn on dogs?
An amber necklace is worn just like a normal collar. Not too tight and not too loose.
Alleged effect of an amber necklace against parasite infestation
Wearing an amber necklace is said to create static electricity in the fur, which causes parasites such as ticks to lose their spider legs and slip off. Likewise, rubbing amber on fur is said to release the turpentine from the stone and also have a repellent effect, i.e. a deterrent effect on ticks.
In order to achieve this effect, according to most usage instructions, the amber necklace must be worn continuously for two to three weeks. Unfortunately, the dogs can no longer be combed or brushed with metal brushes or come into contact with water so that the supposed protection in the fur builds up. Crawling and stroking should therefore probably also be included.
Are there side effects with amber necklaces for dogs?
There are no known side effects other than maybe being laughed at by their canine buddies.
What does science say?
Scientifically, there is no study that proves a connection between amber (fossil resin) and parasite defense. Also, as far as we know, there is no study on whether there are no ticks in areas of resinous trees.
It is rather the case that resin has always been and is used in many areas of our everyday life. Whether as an aromatic scented smoke, as an addition for a certain note in wine or as an adhesive in plasters. There is also resin in cleaning agents and paints.
How much do amber necklaces for dogs cost?
Depending on the length between $20 and $35.
Benefits of an amber necklace for dogs
But one thing remains – most amber necklaces on our dogs look pretty.
Conclusion
The search for chemical-free and natural repellents against parasites is absolutely justified. Every dog has different sensitivities and many chemical products are rightly controversial and harmful and dangerous to both some dogs and humans.
There may also be dogs that wear an amber necklace and have hardly any parasite/tick infestation. However, this can also be due to the fact that they are fed high-quality and species-appropriate food. Or because they don’t live in a highly frequented tick area. Or because the dog’s vapors of carbon dioxide, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide are not very strong to be perceived as an attractive host by the Haller’s organ of the tick. Or because their human carefully and carefully checks them for ticks after every walk through the countryside.
Our four-legged friends live very closely with us, so hygiene, protection against parasites, and, in particular, protection against ticks is too important a health issue for dogs and humans to ignore veterinary and scientific grounds.
