It’s not common for dogs to get dog lice, but it does happen, particularly when the dog lives in a dirty environment. The transfer of dog lice can occur when a dog comes into contact with other dogs that have it.
The first of the two types of canine lice is the biting lice. This one feeds on the animal’s skin and it’s flakes which causes bleeding as well as open sores.The second is similar to a mosquito in that it feeds on the blood only which can cause irritation, but no damage otherwise.
The adult female louse lays eggs which are tightly glued to the hair shafts of the dog. These eggs are called nits. Unlike fleas, lice live their entire life cycle on the animal.
Dog lice tend to look more like dirt than actual insects. They are very small and you may not see them without looking, searching for dog lice. If your dog is scratching a lot, you should certainly have it checked for lice, though fleas could also cause this reaction in your animal.
Because they look kind of like dirt, it is possible dog owners could simply not realize it is lice. You have to push the fur back in order to see the lice. Groomers use high powered blowers which can blow the lice off the animal during grooming, but the eggs will stay on as they are tightly attached the hair follicles.
If you get your dog regular cleaning and grooming, chances are, you won’t have a problem with dog lice. The groomers will usually tell you if they see this problem also. Flea treatments like Frontline will help prevent lice at the same time as fleas. Natural solutions like garlic also can help prevent bugs from living on your dog.
You should you discover your dog has lice, you should bathe him or her in a pyrethrin based shampoo once a week until all the lice are gone. You should also get some preventative treatment from your vet. If you have a puppy, you should talk to your vet before using a pesticide bath on it.