How to protect the dog from lice
Various types of parasites can infest a dog. Fleas, ticks and mites are not the only parasites dogs can have as they can also have lice! A dog owner that maintains a regular grooming routine for the pet should not be surprised if lice is found on the dog's fur as this parasite can be found even on very clean dogs.
Both humans and dogs can be infested with lice. The lice that afflicts humans though is different from the lice that thrives on the dog's body thus the infestation of the pet cannot be blamed on the lice the commonly infests the toddler as human lice cannot live on dogs and vice versa.
The lice that infest dogs are about 12th of an inch in size, wingless and can be gray, beige or tan in color. Lice unlike fleas that jumps, are slow moving parasites thus they can be easily removed by hand. There are two kinds of lice that can infest the dog, one bites the skin and the other sucks blood. The biting lice bites the dog's skin to feed on skin flakes while the sucking lice will attach its mouth parts to the dog's skin and feed on the dog's blood. Both biting and blood sucking lice would have unwanted effects on the dog as the first would cause immense itching while a severe infestation of the blood sucking kind can cause anemia.
A lice infested dog can transmit the parasite to another dog through direct contact. Using the brushes and combs of a lice infested dog to another dog can also spread the infestation. Lice population can grow rapidly as a female lice can lay up to 100 eggs thus if prompt administration of eradication measures are not administered, the dog would be greatly affected by its freeloaders.
Scratching is the most common sign of infestation. Lice can be seen attached to the skin of the dog especially on the neck and shoulders, on the anus and on the ears. The eggs called nits will be glued on hair follicles and would appear like particles of dusts.
Lice infestation is easy to eradicate as these parasites are not resistant to insecticides. Adult lice are eliminated by bathing the dog with insecticide shampoo. The nits, just like the eggs of other parasites are resistant to insecticides thus the treatment has to be repeated to break the life cycle. To totally eradicate the infestation, the beddings and the toys of the dog must be washed thoroughly to make sure that the parasites are killed.
Both humans and dogs can be infested with lice. The lice that afflicts humans though is different from the lice that thrives on the dog's body thus the infestation of the pet cannot be blamed on the lice the commonly infests the toddler as human lice cannot live on dogs and vice versa.
The lice that infest dogs are about 12th of an inch in size, wingless and can be gray, beige or tan in color. Lice unlike fleas that jumps, are slow moving parasites thus they can be easily removed by hand. There are two kinds of lice that can infest the dog, one bites the skin and the other sucks blood. The biting lice bites the dog's skin to feed on skin flakes while the sucking lice will attach its mouth parts to the dog's skin and feed on the dog's blood. Both biting and blood sucking lice would have unwanted effects on the dog as the first would cause immense itching while a severe infestation of the blood sucking kind can cause anemia.
A lice infested dog can transmit the parasite to another dog through direct contact. Using the brushes and combs of a lice infested dog to another dog can also spread the infestation. Lice population can grow rapidly as a female lice can lay up to 100 eggs thus if prompt administration of eradication measures are not administered, the dog would be greatly affected by its freeloaders.
Scratching is the most common sign of infestation. Lice can be seen attached to the skin of the dog especially on the neck and shoulders, on the anus and on the ears. The eggs called nits will be glued on hair follicles and would appear like particles of dusts.
Lice infestation is easy to eradicate as these parasites are not resistant to insecticides. Adult lice are eliminated by bathing the dog with insecticide shampoo. The nits, just like the eggs of other parasites are resistant to insecticides thus the treatment has to be repeated to break the life cycle. To totally eradicate the infestation, the beddings and the toys of the dog must be washed thoroughly to make sure that the parasites are killed.
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