Have you been noticing an abnormal amount of scratching, hair loss, and restless behavior in your dog?The chances are that your dog has a lice infestation! Not to worry, you can eradicate dog lice in a couple of days.Lice are flightless insects that are very small. These insects dwell in the hair of people and animals. There are two types of lice mainly, chewing and biting lice, that infest in mammals and birds. They feed upon the secretions and the skin debris of their host. The lice of the order Anoplura are blood-sucking skin parasites that feed upon mammals only. Lice are species-specific, meaning that a species of lice will only feed upon a specific species and not shift to any other animals. Read on to learn more about the signs of lice in a dog and what treatment the dog’s owner can do to eradicate them.If you enjoyed this article, why not also read about can dogs eat beef and can dogs eat apples here on Kidadl?Types Of Dog Lice Dog lice are wingless, small-sized insects that dwell in the hair shafts of dogs. The end of each leg has hook-like claws that aid them in hanging on to the hair. Different lice have different sizes of claws specific to the species they prefer as a host. This is why many lice are species-specific. Humans cannot get the lice dogs can get.There are mainly two kinds of lice, sucking and chewing lice. Chewing lice possess a flat-blunt head and feed upon secretions of the host as well as skin debris. The two chewing lice species that infest dogs are the Heterodoxus spiniger and Trichodectes canis.The Trichodectes canis, also called the Canine Biting Louse, can be commonly found in most parts of the world. This type of lice has a lifespan of 30 days. If the adult lice fall out of the dog’s fur, they die within a couple of days.The other type of lice is called sucking lice, and they feed upon the dog’s blood. Dogs are affected by the species Linognathus setosus also called the Canine Sucking Louse. The species of this kind of lice survive by feeding upon blood through their pointed mouthparts. They are capable of causing wounds of small size that can also get infected. Dogs that have poor health become infested with lice easily. Linognathus setosus is a blood-sucking louse commonly found infested in dogs. The female lice lay their nits (eggs) on the hair shafts and glue them there. Non–treatment washing and shampooing do not eradicate these nits.Ways That Dogs Can Get LiceLice cannot fly, hop, or jump. They can only crawl. Lice can only get transmitted through an infested animal if both animals directly contact each other. Lice can also be transmitted among pets through contaminated dog collars, grooming equipment, and bedding. Your pet dog can also get lice from social places for dogs such as parks, boarding kennels, dog shows, and dog daycare centers.Monthly flea and tick preventives have made lice infestations rare among well-cared-for pet dogs. Today, lice are found mostly on animals that are old, sick, stray, or feral.The cycle of lice commences when females lay white to yellow-colored nits on the hair. They hatch in seven days, and these newly born nymphs are as small as a pin’s head. The adult stage begins after a week, with the females laying eggs again. The nymphs reach the reproductively active adult stage within three to four weeks.Lice may sometimes be confused with dandruff, especially the nits. If the white flakes fall, then it is dandruff. But if they do not, it means that lice are present. Lice infestations cause a dog to show signs such as hair falling out, behaving restlessly, scratching intensely, having a dry, matted, or rough coat, developing a bacterial infection on minor wounds because of sucking lice bites, and becoming anemic. Lice can also spread kinds of parasites, bacteria, and even tapeworm. The lice that infest dogs and other pets do not infest on the hair of humans.How To Get Rid Of Dog LiceIt is essential to consult with your veterinarian or even visit the veterinary clinic before treating your pet dog, as some products may not be safe. Veterinary doctors advise dog owners to use safe products and made specifically for the age, breed, and health condition of their pet dog. Cats, dogs, and other pets are typically given treatment with sprays, collars, and shampoos that are effective in killing lice.There are also numerous insecticides that can be given to lice-infested dogs as a treatment. Insecticides such as selamectin, imidacloprid, and fipronil kill effectively. You can also use topical permethrin to eradicate lice. However, only nymphs and adults are killed with insecticide treatments and not the eggs.Treatment for dogs that have severe infestations includes trimming off the dog’s matted and dry hair. YOu can also use flea combs to rid the dog’s coat of dead as well as live lice. A flea comb does not kill the lice eggs and cannot stop them from hatching into nymphs on the hair shaft of the dog. After using the flea comb, you should clean it by submerging it in a mixture of water and flea shampoo for 10 minutes.In the case of severe infestations, the dog’s skin may get damaged due to intense itching and scratching. The wounds may also develop bacterial infections. In such cases, the dog’s veterinarian will give it a course of medication, such as antibiotics. The veterinarian may also treat the existing health or nutritional issues present in the dog as lice thrive on old, weak, and poor health dogs. Your pet dog’s condition can be improved by giving it proper housing, grooming, and nutrition. Until the infestation is completely eradicated, the dog’s bedding must be frequently treated in soapy hot water or sprayed with a lice spray.Dog Lice vs. FleasLice and fleas are both wingless insects that infest the dog. You can determine the presence of both by parting your pet dog’s hair and looking at the skin or the roots of the hair. The naked eye can see the adult lice easily as they are about 0.07-0.1 in (2-4 mm) long, approximately as big as the size of a tiny sesame seed. They are either medium brown, tan, or yellow. A louse infestation causes hair loss, inflammation, itching, and pain in dogs,Fleas are dark, black-colored insects known by the scientific name Siphonaptera and cause itching, pimples, red bumps, red patches, skin infection, anemia, and low blood pressure in dogs. If the dog owner does not treat the dog suitably, the dog may die.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for can dogs get lice, then why not take a look at can dogs get head lice or beagle facts.
Have you been noticing an abnormal amount of scratching, hair loss, and restless behavior in your dog?
