Being a dog owner isn’t always easy. In addition to providing a healthy diet, adequate health care, a good home, exercise and training, pet owners have to contend with a host of parasites. Lice are one of them.
Fortunately, the lice that infect dogs are not transmittable to humans or other types of pets such as cats. The two most common types of lice that infect dogs are the trichodectes canis or canine chewing louse and the linognathus setosus or canine sucking louse.
Chewing lice are found on dogs worldwide and they are carriers of tapeworms. The sucking lice are usually less bothersome unless the infestation is heavy.
Canine lice are not a big problem in the United States. This is due in part to the fact that many dogs are well taken care of and kept in clean environments. However, dogs that live in horrid, unsanitary conditions are apt to be infested by lice. Unhealthy and malnourished dogs are at risk of lice infestations.
Let’s look at the life cycle or a louse. The female lays several eggs each day over the course of her life, which is about 30 days. Eggs, which are also known as nits, are cemented in place near the base of the dog’s hair until they hatch one of two weeks after they were laid. After hatching, three nymphal stages occur before developing into mature lice.
The chewing lice, which are found worldwide, feed on tissue debris and the sucking lice, which are most commonly found in colder climates, feed on blood in a manner that resembles that of a mosquito.
Lice need a host to survive. Without one, they last three days to one week.
Adult lice are yellowish to tan in color. They have dark markings and range in size from 1 to 2.5 mm. The heads of the chewing lice are wider than the thoraxes.
The heads of sucking lice are narrower than the thorax. Their antennae are short, rather stout and made up of three segments. Each leg has one claw and the abdomen is oval in shape.
Chewing lice use their claws or mandibles to attach themselves to the base of a hair. They seem to prefer the head, neck and tail areas of the dog’s body.
Sucking lice tend to attack the neck and shoulder areas and are frequently found underneath collars.
There are some common symptoms of a lice infestation. The dog will rub, bite and scratch at infested areas. Sleeplessness often occurs. Infested dogs may appear to be nervous and their coats look a bit scruffy.
Lice move between hosts when one host comes into contact with another. Lice eggs can be transferred to other dogs via grooming equipment, so be sure that you have a reputable groomer.
Lice will die after several hours in hot, dry conditions such as a clothes dryer.
Since lice can be seen by the naked eye, they are easily detected and treated. If you see lice on your dog, schedule an appointment with the veterinarian, who can recommend the best form of treatment for your area. Treatment may have to be repeated to ensure that nymphs from hatching eggs are killed.
Do yourself and your dog a favor. Make sure the dog’s bedding is clean and keep a watchful eye for any unusual amount of scratching.
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