This is all I could find about lice on dogs.
Lice
Background
Lice are wingless insects that spend their entire life cycle on the host and are spread to other hosts via direct contact. Typically, they only parasitize one species of animal.
Lice come in two varieties: sucking or biting lice. Sucking lice move very slowly and have pointed, piercing mouthparts for feeding. In North America, Linognathus setosus, is the one species affecting dogs. Biting lice are smaller than sucking lice, move much more rapidly, and have a more rounded head and biting mouthparts. The biting lice of dogs include Trichodectes canis and Heterodoxus spiniger.
Female lice attach their eggs (nits) to the hairs of the host. Lice infestation is typically diagnosed by identification of adults and nits on the affected dog. The nits are quite resistant to most insecticidal chemicals.
Lice have poor survival capability when off the host.
Clinical Signs
Typical signs of lice infestation include:
hair loss
itching
blood loss
anemia
Treatment
Treatment involves the use of insecticides. Since the nits are quite resistant to most insecticides, a repeat treatment after an interval of several weeks is indicated to kill young lice that may have hatched.
Lice (Pediculosis)
Race Foster, DVM
Marty Smith, DVM
Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.
This site was created by and is maintained by Belinda Winters for BFH Bassets.
If you have any questions or comments email [email protected]
Lice are insects that can be seen with the naked eye. They are flattened and possess no wings. They are very host-specific
and do not tend to leave their preferred animal, in this case dogs and puppies. Lice spend their entire life cycle on the pet.
There are several kinds of lice. Blood-sucking lice belong to the group Anoplura. Those that do not suck blood, but rather
chew skin, are grouped as Mallophaga.
Transmission of lice is by direct contact with an infested pet. Unlike fleas and ticks, lice do not persist or travel in the
environment. Grooming instruments may, however, serve as a source of transmission.
Lice lay eggs (termed nits) on the hair shafts. The life cycle takes about 21 days to complete.
Trichodectes canis is the biting louse of dogs. Another commonly found biting louse of the canine is Heterodoxus spiniger. The
only sucking louse of the dog is Linognathus setosus. Cats have one biting louse and that is Felicola subrostratus. None of
these lice present a problem to humans.
What are the symptoms?
The most noted sign of a louse infestation is a scruffy, dry hair coat. Hair loss may occur and the animal may itch, at times
severely. In very heavy infestations of blood-sucking lice (biting), one may detect anemia, especially in puppies. A diagnosis
can usually be accomplished with the naked eye. Nits tend to be more visible than the actual louse, but both can be seen.
What is the management?
Of all the parasites of cats and dogs, lice are the easiest to eliminate, and they pose no threat to you or your children.
Treatment is relatively simple. The dog may be bathed with a pyrethrin shampoo, and after the dog is thoroughly dry, a
pyrethrin spray or powder can be applied. This treatment will need to be repeated in 10-14 days since all of the nits will not
be killed. Alternatively, permethrins are also effective against lice. Do NOT use permethrins on cats. Another option is
fipronil (Frontline), which has been approved for the treatment and control of lice in dogs. It usually is not necessary to
treat the environment, but flea and tick foggers may help, especially in severe cases. Keep all grooming utensils clean.
Lice
Background
Lice are wingless insects that spend their entire life cycle on the host and are spread to other hosts via direct contact. Typically, they only parasitize one species of animal.
Lice come in two varieties: sucking or biting lice. Sucking lice move very slowly and have pointed, piercing mouthparts for feeding. In North America, Linognathus setosus, is the one species affecting dogs. Biting lice are smaller than sucking lice, move much more rapidly, and have a more rounded head and biting mouthparts. The biting lice of dogs include Trichodectes canis and Heterodoxus spiniger.
Female lice attach their eggs (nits) to the hairs of the host. Lice infestation is typically diagnosed by identification of adults and nits on the affected dog. The nits are quite resistant to most insecticidal chemicals.
Lice have poor survival capability when off the host.
Clinical Signs
Typical signs of lice infestation include:
hair loss
itching
blood loss
anemia
Treatment
Treatment involves the use of insecticides. Since the nits are quite resistant to most insecticides, a repeat treatment after an interval of several weeks is indicated to kill young lice that may have hatched.
Lice (Pediculosis)
Race Foster, DVM
Marty Smith, DVM
Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.
This site was created by and is maintained by Belinda Winters for BFH Bassets.
If you have any questions or comments email [email protected]
Lice are insects that can be seen with the naked eye. They are flattened and possess no wings. They are very host-specific
and do not tend to leave their preferred animal, in this case dogs and puppies. Lice spend their entire life cycle on the pet.
There are several kinds of lice. Blood-sucking lice belong to the group Anoplura. Those that do not suck blood, but rather
chew skin, are grouped as Mallophaga.
Transmission of lice is by direct contact with an infested pet. Unlike fleas and ticks, lice do not persist or travel in the
environment. Grooming instruments may, however, serve as a source of transmission.
Lice lay eggs (termed nits) on the hair shafts. The life cycle takes about 21 days to complete.
Trichodectes canis is the biting louse of dogs. Another commonly found biting louse of the canine is Heterodoxus spiniger. The
only sucking louse of the dog is Linognathus setosus. Cats have one biting louse and that is Felicola subrostratus. None of
these lice present a problem to humans.
What are the symptoms?
The most noted sign of a louse infestation is a scruffy, dry hair coat. Hair loss may occur and the animal may itch, at times
severely. In very heavy infestations of blood-sucking lice (biting), one may detect anemia, especially in puppies. A diagnosis
can usually be accomplished with the naked eye. Nits tend to be more visible than the actual louse, but both can be seen.
What is the management?
Of all the parasites of cats and dogs, lice are the easiest to eliminate, and they pose no threat to you or your children.
Treatment is relatively simple. The dog may be bathed with a pyrethrin shampoo, and after the dog is thoroughly dry, a
pyrethrin spray or powder can be applied. This treatment will need to be repeated in 10-14 days since all of the nits will not
be killed. Alternatively, permethrins are also effective against lice. Do NOT use permethrins on cats. Another option is
fipronil (Frontline), which has been approved for the treatment and control of lice in dogs. It usually is not necessary to
treat the environment, but flea and tick foggers may help, especially in severe cases. Keep all grooming utensils clean.
:wink:
