While it is rare, dogs can carry lice. However it is not the same lice that humans get. Lice are species specific, meaning that people can only get head lice from coming in close contact with other people. Human head lice will live on the scalp area of humans but not dogs.
There are two types of lice that dogs can get from other dogs. Don’t panic though because again lice are species specific, those these will not try to live on a human. The first type of lice that a dog can get is called biting lice. They stick to a dog’s fur and feed off of his dead flakes of skin. The second type of lice that a dog can get is called sucking lice. These nasty little guys feed off of the blood and attach themselves to a dog’s skin.
Lice Prevention In Canines
As mentioned earlier, dog lice is quite rare. However the same prevention rules that apply for human lice also apply to dogs. Never share grooming products and always check your dog after he or she has been around other dogs, especially if your dog has been at a kennel, doggy daycare, etc.
Lice Symptoms
Symptoms of dog lice are also very similar to those of human lice. They are as follows:
- Excessive scratching
- The appearance of small white eggs
- The appearance of small black bugs
- Combing your pup’s fur with a fine toothed comb is the best way to look for lice.
Lice Treatment
In order to treat your dog for lice you might have to try a few different things before you are successful in getting rid of the lice completely. The first treatment option is to bathe your dog in pyrethrin-based dog shampoo. It is important that you only use this type of shampoo on dogs as it can be lethal to cats. Follow the directions on the bottle carefully, and do not bathe the dog with this shampoo if you are pregnant. It is also best to speak to your veterinarian for a definite diagnosis and treatment. He or she may suggest a preventative medication such as Frontline or Advantiks. The good news is that lice are much easier to treat for than other parasites such as fleas. There are lots of different medicated shampoos, spray or spot on treatments and preventive medications that your veterinarian can prescribe to treat canine lice and prevent it in the future.
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