Can Dogs get Lice?
Several people keep asking that do lice could affect their pet dogs from their children or other sources! Here you will be glad to know that head lice that often bother humans, couldn’t spread on dogs or any of your pets. Because that small parasite which thrives on human blood via their scalp couldn’t feed by any animal blood and that’s for sure! So, it is certain that your dog cannot get lice from your kids or you and neither you could get affected by dog lice as well!
But, this theory doesn’t mean that your dog could not get lice from anywhere; as there a category of six-legged insects, which are known as the animal lice and your dogs, could get infected anytime by these lice!
Category of Dog Lice:
These lice are smaller than head lice, come in a flat, wingless form, who used to live in the hair or fur or feathers of mammal or birds. The most disgusting part of such parasites is that they come with brawny hook-like claws which help them to hang on to the long and hanging hair shaft of dogs. There are two types of lice from which your dog could get infected who are chewing lice and sucking lice. The names of these two species are indicating their surviving ways. Chewing lice are those kinds which thrive on skin debris and sebaceous secretions; while the sucking ones live on the blood of their host animal. Sucking lice are rare to find which often detect in the tropical region of dogs; on the other hand, chewing lice are more frequent to find on our pet dogs.
How Do Dogs get Lice?
Dog lice also have limited moving ability like head lice and they also don’t fly or jump instead only crawl from one animal host to another. The transmission could be possible only through direct contact from one infected or lice infested animal to a fresh one. So be cautious whenever you are picking your dogs for congregating, like parks, dog show, daycare centers, or other outings.
What are the Symptoms of your Dog of Getting Lice?
There are a few apparent symptoms you will see, that will assist you to decide whether your dog is infested with lice or not, let’s find the out-
- If you would notice that your dogs are scratching their body more than a normal time or they are itching frequently, then it is a possibility of having lice.
- If your dog is getting harsh, dry or matted coat in recent times then, watch out for lice on their skin.
- If your dog recently starts hair losing, particularly on lice-prone areas like behind the ears, neck, shoulders, groin, etc. spaces, then it’s definitely a matter of lice concern on your dog.
- One of the commonest symptoms of lice infestation of your dog is that the small wounds or infections on the upper body of your dog, which often occur because of the bites of lice.
- Last but one of the paramount symptoms of having lice on your dog is flicking their whole body frequently after scratching it vigorously!
How to Getting Rid of these Lice?
To get rid of these revolting creatures you can apply a number of remedies in an effortless way, check a few efficient ones of them-
- use flea combs on the hair of your dog, it will help remove all kind of lice from your dog’s body, whether they are dead or alive.
- Apply herbal insecticide on your pet to kill the lice in a chemical less way. Herbal products are good for your dogs’ skin and hair, as it will kill the parasites in a true harmless manner.
- If you want to apply a market-based pesticide solution on your dog to kill lice in the most rapid way then, validate that whether that product is approved by the CAPC (Companion Animal Parasite Council) or not.
- To get remedied from nymphs or eggs of lice, do the same process as adult lice, and make sure that after applying the curing methods you are clearing all the personal stuffs of your dog to give a fresh start. Personal stuffs like beddings or other household products.
- To get rid of lice, you should keep your dog in sanitary place and always maintain a clear circumstance for them.
- It has been observed that dogs or animals, who are sick, old, feral or stray and live in a comparatively unsanitary place, are more infested by lice than home-based pet dogs.
- Hence, try to improve the condition of your dog’s circumstance by producing best nutrition, grooming them or housing them in a clean surface. This way, you can prevent the way of future lice infestation, once you get remedied from their attack.
