No matter who you are or where you come from, you have likely heard of the dreaded critters known as lice. Lice have a way of sneaking into their host’s life and wreaking havoc, leaving a path of itch and inconvenience in their wake.
If you or someone else in your home currently has lice, you might be wondering to whom it can spread. We know lice can transfer from person to person, but can we spread it to our dogs or other pets as well?
We want you to know everything there is to about lice in dogs and other animals, so let’s break down the details below!
Lice – What Are They?
Lice are tiny parasites that attach themselves to the surface of their host’s skin and feed on their blood. Lice can not only cause severe itchiness with their bite, but even their presence moving across the skin can lead to significant irritation. Most forms of female lice can lay up to 8 eggs per day and will continue this egg-laying cycle for just over two weeks. A lice infestation can get out of control quickly, which is why nobody wants anyone in their home to ever fall victim to lice.
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Can Dogs Get Lice?
Like many other types of mammals, dogs can get lice. Lice in dogs are very similar in appearance to the lice we see in humans, as they are also wingless, six-legged, and grow no larger than a grain of rice. Lice in dogs also burrow into their fur and attach themselves to strands of fur, which allows them to crawl down to the skin and feed on blood. Some forms of lice in dogs also feed on dead skin and skin oils, but this form of lice is much less common.
Lice in mammals are species-specific, so this means that dog lice can only survive on dogs. Your dog’s lice cannot be spread to any humans or animals around them, so nobody else in the home needs to worry about catching them. This means that your dog either caught lice from another infested dog, or from any bedding or grooming tools that the lice-infected dog came in contact with.
What Are the Signs of Lice in Dogs?
Spotting lice in dogs can be tricky for some pet parents, as there are many conditions in dogs that will cause them to itch. The best a pet parent can do is simply pick up on the skin irritation your dog is having, and realize that it is time to bring them to the vet to explore their symptoms further. We want to help you spot your dog’s skin irritation from the moment it begins, so let’s list the most common signs of lice in dogs below:
- Constantly scratching or chewing at their skin
- Dry skin and a lackluster coat
- Appearing restless or agitated
- Small wounds on the skin
- Bacterial infections of the skin
- Excessive fur loss, especially around the ears, shoulders, neck, and hind end
- Evidence of tapeworms in their stool (worms that look like grains of rice)
If you notice any of the above symptoms in your dog, we suggest having them seen by your veterinary team. These symptoms can also be seen in dogs with fleas or skin mites, but these ectoparasites require veterinary treatment as well. Your vet can perform a physical exam and skin scraping test to diagnose the exact critter that is responsible for your dog’s skin irritation
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How Do You Treat Lice in Dogs?
Thankfully for the lice-infested pup in your life, it is usually very easy to treat lice in dogs. Most flea and tick prevention that you purchase from your vet’s office will kill the fleas on your dog’s body, as well as protect them from other irritating critters that feed on their skin. This is also why most dogs that are on monthly flea and tick prevention will not develop a case of lice, as their prescribed prevention keeps these itchy critters at bay.
One thing you will need to keep in mind is that you not only need to treat your dog, but you also need to treat your home for dog lice. Your dog might be protected against the lice if you stay on top of their monthly flea prevention, but you do not want a flea infestation in your home. We suggest either throwing out any of their bedding you can stand to lose, or washing their bedding frequently in hot water that is treated with lice spray. Fumigation is not usually recommended for lice, so it’s best to just be thorough about washing any fabrics and bedding around your home, as well as cleaning all surfaces with diluted bleach.
Can Dogs Catch Lice From Humans?
As we mentioned above, each mammal will have a form of lice that is species specific. This means that dog lice can only spread to dogs, human lice can only spread to humans, and the same rule continues on. Each type of lice can only survive on their species of interest, so you do not have to worry about giving your dog lice, or vice versa. This also means that you can rest assured when your dog is diagnosed with dog lice, as these tiny creatures are not interested in the humans inside of your home.
Do Other Pets Get Lice Too, & Can They Spread It?
Almost all mammals have their own form of lice that can cling to their fur and cause them irritation. Lice can survive in everything from hair to feathers, so virtually every warm-blooded creature can catch them. As we’ve discussed in detail above, lice in other animals can only be spread to animals of the same kind. The only time you have to worry about animal lice spreading inside of your home is if you have another animal of the same kind.
Final Thoughts
Lice are a nuisance that impact furry friends of all kinds. Thankfully each type of lice is species-specific and will not infect other types of animals, so you only need to worry if you have another pet in your home of the same kind. We suggest reviewing the symptoms of lice we discussed above, and simply keeping an eye out for these symptoms in the future. By taking your pet to the vet from the moment you notice skin irritation, you can get rid of their itchy lice once and for all!
Up Next:
- Dog Lice vs Fleas: What’s the Difference?
- What Do Lice Eat? Their Diet Explained
- Flea Lifespan: How Long Do Fleas Live?
The post Can Dogs (And Other Pets) Get Lice From Humans? appeared first on AZ Animals.
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