If you ever had lice as a child, you may get into trouble remembering the parasitic insects crawling in your hair.
You might experience a similar ailment once you realize that dogs can also get lice, although the species that affect them are different from those that affect humans.
In this article, you will learn what dog lice are and how they are managed and avoided.
Key takeaways
- Dog lice are species-specific parasites that live on a dog's skin and coat, causing itching, hair loss and skin irritation, but they do not spread to humans or cats.
- Lice are usually spread through direct contact with other dogs or contaminated grooming tools, and infestations are more common in young, sick, or unprotected dogs.
- Treatment with veterinarian-recommended antiparasitic products is usually effective, although repeated treatment may be necessary to eliminate newly hatched lice.
What are dog lice?
Dog lice are parasites that live on the dog's skin. These flat, six-legged, wingless insects feed on the dog's blood or tissue debris.
Dogs have two main species of lice:
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Linognathus setosus: This is the canine sucking louse, which has a narrow head for sucking blood.
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Trichodectes canis: This is the canine chewing louse. This louse has a larger head for grabbing fur. These lice feed on tissue debris.
T. canis are more common than L. setosus.
During a lice infestation, female lice lay their eggs (nits) in the dog's fur. These nits are cemented to the base of the hairs. When a nit hatches, the louse develops from nymph to adult while still on the dog's body.
While finding out your dog has lice can certainly make you panic a little, a lice infestation is not an emergency.
Lice are contagious to other dogs in the household, but they are very specific to their host. This means that you, other people in the house, and any cats in the house should generally be safe from your dog's lice.
Dog Lice Symptoms
Most dog lice symptoms are related to itching.
You may notice:
In rare cases, the sucking louse may drink enough blood to cause anemia. This would require a very large, untreated infestation. The risks are higher in young dogs and in dogs without adequate parasite protection.
Causes of dog lice
Dog lice are usually spread through direct contact between dogs, but eggs can also be spread between dogs on grooming equipment if it is not properly cleaned between animals.
Infestations are more common during the cooler months of the year. Lice are more likely to be a problem in young, old or sick dogs who live in unsanitary conditions.
Animals that are not subject to parasite prevention are also at higher risk of getting lice.
Dog Lice Diagnosis
A veterinarian can diagnose lice in a dog by finding lice or eggs on the dog.
If the veterinarian is unsure of the type of parasite present on your dog, he or she may send the insects to a pathologist to be examined.
To help your veterinarian make a diagnosis, be sure to tell them:
Dog Lice Treatment
Lice are easily treated with many of the same products that control fleas.
The following antiparasitic medications can treat lice in dogs:
Some of these are used off-label when used for the treatment or prevention of lice.
The treatment is not effective against nits, so it may need to be repeated a week later to kill any nymphs that have hatched.
You can hasten the death of eggs and other young lice on contaminated objects, such as brushes or bedding, by placing them in a warm, dry place (like a dryer).
Dog Lice Recovery and Management
The lice should begin to die within a day or two after treatment. Keep in mind that some treatments may need to be repeated a week or so later to reach all life stages of the lice.
If there is skin inflammation (swelling) or hair loss, it may take several weeks for the skin to return to normal and the hair to begin to grow back.
You may consider using a soothing shampoo (like Douxo S3 CALM) to relieve skin inflammation.
If you used a topical antiparasitic product, you should make sure that you left the product on the dog's skin for as long as the instructions indicate before bathing to ensure you don't wash the product off too soon.
Dog Lice Prevention
Regular use of flea control products is usually enough to prevent lice infestations. Any of the options mentioned in the treatment section may be helpful in preventing dog lice.
If your dog visits a groomer, ask the groomer how they clean their equipment between animals.
Dog Lice FAQs
Can humans get lice from dogs?
No, lice are very host specific. Dogs do not transmit their lice to humans, and humans do not transmit their lice to dogs. This doesn't guarantee that you won't see lice crawling on your skin or furniture when they're looking for a host dog, but they won't survive long if they don't find a dog.
How do you know if a dog has lice?
Lice are visible to the naked eye. If you are unsure whether what you see is a louse, have your pet seen by a veterinarian.
Can dog lice live on furniture?
Yes, dog lice can live on furniture, but they only survive three to seven days if not on a dog host.
