Dog Lice
Sticky Facts about Dog Lice
Yes, there is such a thing as dog lice. But no, they are not the same kind of lice that humans get, and they can't be passed back and forth between canine or feline and human. Dog lice are easier to treat than the human types, too. Whereas human lice are speedy, the lice that affect dogs are almost motionless. A dog's coat isn't clean enough for human lice, because the human lice prefer clean hair.
Infestation with dog lice is not very common with dogs in the United States, particularly if they live in a fairly clean area and get proper feed and attention. Poorly nourished dogs are much more likely to get lice than healthy dogs.
There are two distinct species of canine lice. The first are sucking lice, which feed on dogs' blood. These are more irritating. The second type is biting lice. These feed on skin and skin flakes.
Dog lice, called nits just like the human variety, are laid on the shafts of hair. Their life cycle takes about three weeks from larva to adult. Females may lay up to one hundred eggs at one time. The biting louse eggs are stuck securely to the bases of the dog's hairs.
Lice are the easiest parasite to treat, since they're not active in the same environment as ticks and fleas. They are wingless, gray, flat parasites that are only about one twelfth of an inch in length. These lice hardly move at all. They don't jump from one host to another, like human lice do, but they can be transferred between dogs when they are playing or fighting. If you have more than one dog that uses a carrier or a pet bed, they can be transferred that way, too.
If your furry friend has been doing more scratching lately, he could have lice. They are small, but can be seen by the naked eye. They look rather like small black dots, and they have a semi-clear lining around the black area. They look more like dirt than like bugs. If your dog has a lot of lice, you can find them easily, but if he only has a few lice, they might be hard to find. Lice attach themselves to your dog's skin, so you need to move the fur around a bit when you look for them. Groomers can often see them when they blow dry your dog, so this is a good time to have him checked.
If for no other reason than to manage parasites, you should have your dog regularly groomed by a professional. The extra set of eyes is very helpful in catching parasites or other irregularities in your dog's coat. Your groomers will let you know if they find anything.
Keep a close watch on the health of your dog's skin and fur. Check them regularly, so that anything amiss will be caught early.