Can Dogs Get Head Lice

Inspecting Your Dog For Lice

When you want to make sure that your dog is healthy, especially if he romps around outside a great deal, you will find that it is going to be necessary to occasionally inspect him for lice. Lice are extremely difficult to see and smaller than fleas. Essentially, you are looking for small wingless insects that are beige or tan. It will almost certainly be easier for you to spot the lice eggs on your dog, which are also known as nits. They are stationary and they attach to your dog’s hair; they may initially look like white dust.

Don’t worry about getting infected yourself. Head lice are the lice that affect humans, and these lice only look for human hosts. They will not be found on your dog, though it is possible that your dog will spread the lice to other animals in the home. While you can immediately segregate the dog that has the lice, you should also keep in mind the fact that your dog has probably already spread the lice. Remember that the lice that affect dogs will also affect cats.

Though a cursory look through your dog’s fur on a regular basis is a good idea, you’ll find that some signs should have you on the hunt for lice. If your dog is scratching and biting a lot, this can be a sign of lice, as can irritation that will result in bald patches. If your dog is very young, he might be also end up anemic due to the lice on its body. The eggs of the lice will look like small white flakes, and you may be able to spot lice on the ears, neck, shoulders, and anus of the dog.

When you have looked at your dog and determined that lice are a problem, it is time to head to the tub. Shampoo your dog and keep on bathing him on a regular basis until the eggs are gone. Look for a shampoo that is d-limonene in it; this is a natural insecticide that will not harm your dog. When you lather your dog up, make sure that the lather stays on him for at least ten minutes. This will cause the lice to drown or suffocate. When you go to rinse your dog, make a rinse out of about a pint of water that has had lemon slices steeped in it overnight.

Dog lice are drawn to your dog’s blood, and one way that they thrive is by living on dogs with skin problems. If your dog has skin problems, he developing lice is a big push towards getting those solved. Consider how much clean water he is getting and what kind of exercise you can give him. Also consider his food and discuss the possibility of a food allergy with your vet.

When you want to make sure that your dog stays healthy, and when you are looking to prevent lice, remember to inspect your dog regularly and to keep an eye out for the warning signs!

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