Dogs

Lice

Can my pet have lice?

All parents are afraid to see lice on their children’s head when they come home from school. It’s understandable because treatment is tricky and lice are gross. But, what about cats and dogs? Can my pet have lice? And mostly, can our pet give lice to our children? What do we need to know about lice and pets?

Cats and dogs, like many other animals, can have lice. But don’t worry because we have good news about lice on pets. First, lice infestations on cats and dogs are rare in Quebec. Second, lice are parasites that are species-specific, meaning that they do not jump from one species to another. That means that human lice infect other humans through close contact, but don’t travel to pets. Just as dog lice infect other dogs, but not cats or humans. Same thing for cats: they have their own lice! Infection only happens through direct contact between animals from the same species.

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What are lice really?

Lice are little flat, grey insects with no wings. They are only a few millimetres long and live exclusively on the skin of the mammals that they infect. There are 2 types of lice: biting lice and sucking lice. Biting lice bite to get their nutrients – mostly made of dead skin found on the infected animal. Meanwhile, sucking lice feed on the infected animal’s blood when they bite them. Sucking lice can cause anemia when a lot are present, and they can spread diseases such as flatworms.

The life cycle of lice is short. Females lay about fifty eggs that are tightly stuck at the base of the hair. In less than three weeks nits, immature lice, will hatch and become egg laying adults. In less than three weeks nits, immature lice, will hatch and become egg laying adults. It is not surprising that we find a lot of them…

Lice in cats and dogs

Cat lice are biting lice called Felicola subrostratus.. As for dogs, they can host sucking lice (Linognathus setosus) and biting lice (Trichodectes canis)). Even though most infected cats and dogs show very few symptoms, they can still scratch, bite, develop skin rashes, or lose hair due to excessive scratching.

How do I know if my pet has lice?

The above symptoms should encourage you to visit your veterinarian. But you can visually inspect your pet for little insects, or their eggs, which are easily visible in the hair. If in doubt, your veterinarian is your best ally to help you identify what you see.

What do I do if my pet has lice?

Your family veterinarian will be able to properly help you in the diagnosis and treatment of your pet. Nowadays, various veterinary medications get rid of lice and meet the specific needs of your pet. Overall, they are easy and safe to apply.

Beware of over-the-counter products to treat cats

Many insecticides against lice are sold without prescription in convenience stores and pet shops. Many of the products contain pyrethrin or permethrin, which are unfortunately very toxic, especially for cats. Every year many cats are intoxicated by such products that can cause neurological conditions, which requires emergency care. Please be careful and always double-check with your veterinarian before using over-the-counter products.

Have more questions?

Please do not hesitate to contact the Passionimo veterinary clinic near you.