What Causes Dog Lice
Dog lice can be annoying pests when they are affecting one’s pet. They are uncommon in the United States and usually target poorly groomed or unhealthy dogs. Dog lice are not to be mistaken for those that tend to affect humans. Being informed about these parasites can help pet owners decide on a natural dog lice treatment.
The first thing that must be done is identifying the dog lice. There are two main types of dog lice, which are known as “sucking” and “biting” lice. Sucking dog lice are more irritating to the pet and live off a diet of the dog’s blood, while biting dog lice eat the dead skin cells on the animal. The symptoms shown by the dog, typically itchiness, can cause these parasites to be mistaken for fleas. Dog lice are smaller than fleas and a light tan color. They also move slowly and cannot leap from one host to another, unlike fleas and human lice. Their eggs are attached to the dog’s hair by a sticky substance and can be difficult to remove.
Dog Lice Can Be Prevented.
There are a few ways to help prevent a dog from being affected by dog lice. Clean, healthy pets are unlikely to attract these parasites, since dog lice prefer dirty and oily hosts. If a dog has close contact with another dog that already has lice, such as lying together, some of the lice may transfer to the new host. It is a good idea to not allow contact with pets that are suspected of having dog lice. They can also be picked up from another dog’s bedding or grooming supplies.
Once a dog becomes a host for these pests, it is important to use a natural dog lice treatment as soon as possible. While dog lice are typically annoying rather than harmful, they reproduce at an alarming rate and may quickly make a pet miserable. A female louse can lay up to one hundred eggs, and the life cycle for dog lice is only twenty-one days.
There are several common treatments for dog lice. A pet owner should usually start with a good-quality natural dog shampoo then apply a lemon rinse to the animal’s coat. The eggs can often be removed by rubbing mayonnaise into the fur to loosen them before shampooing. Most types of natural dog lice treatment are repeated daily until the problem has been eliminated.