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With an elderly dog and arthritis the situation's a bit tricky because you can't just use anything. Personally, I'd avoid chemical collars like the pyrethroid ones or ones with strong insecticides - the old dog already has enough problems without adding stress to his liver and kidneys. Better to go for lighter stuff: collars with essential oils like eucalyptus or cedarwood work decently enough for ticks and fleas, though honestly they protect less than real chemicals. If your vet thinks it's okay, you could try the ones based on natural pyrethrins, which are milder anyway. The important thing is that the collar isn't too tight - with a dog that has joint pain, the discomfort of a collar pressing on him doesn't help.
I'd recommend talking to your vet before making any choice, because he knows your dog's medical history and knows if he already has kidney or liver problems. In the meantime, for the arthritis, if you really want to help him, stick to a light routine (short walks, don't push it), keep his weight under control and consider supplements with glucosamine - again though your vet's the right person to ask about that. Then, rather than just a collar for antiparasitics, you could go for spot-on or tablets if your dog tolerates those better.
I agree with whoever says to be careful with strong chemicals, especially with an older dog. I would have tried the neem collars first or physical ones like the Seresto, which are gentler; then maybe talk to your vet to understand if the dog is already taking other medications because at that age interactions really matter
Like I said, I'd avoid harsh chemicals with an older dog. In my opinion it's worth trying physical collars first, like the ones with essential oils (neem, eucalyptus) that are gentler on the joints and sensitive skin, or even simple ultrasonic collars if your dog tolerates them well. If they really don't work you can always talk to your vet about lighter formulations, but honestly with arthritis it's better not to stress the old buddy's body even more.
Yes, like I said, strong chemical collars are risky with an elderly dog, especially if they're already dealing with arthritis. I'd add that before getting any collar you should really talk to your vet because with arthritis the dog might already be suffering from inflammation and certain active ingredients could make things worse; physical collars like the ultrasonic ones are an interesting option, even though their effectiveness is still kind of debated if you ask me. If you absolutely have to use something chemical, natural repellents like neem or essential oils are less aggressive, but like I said, the vet is key here because they know your dog's medical history.
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