Busting the Myth: Can My Pet Get Lice?

So you have head lice and now you have to go through the whole process of cleaning the house, washing your clothes and bed sheets.

You’ve planned to visit the local lice clinic and you know you’ll be rid of this annoyance soon. But then you notice your pet scratching that itch on their back and you realize… does my pet have lice?

Can my pet have lice?

To put it simply;

Pets don’t get lice.

Sure, your dog might get fleas but lice are specific to different species, meaning that each animal species has a different species of lice.

Lice that infest human hair need human blood for survival. So if you or someone in your family ends up getting lice, your pet will be quite safe from a lice outbreak and nits. Vice versa, if a pet gets lice, that specific species will not be able to live on human blood.

Lice in Common Household Pets

Cats and dogs do get lice, but it’s not a common parasite for household pets. Often found in animals that live in poor sanitary conditions, have poor overall health and poor diet, lice are also found in pets that are very young or senior.

Dogs are affected by two kinds of lice; namely the Linognathussetosusand Trichodectescanis. Cats are affected by only one type of lice, Felicolasubrostata.

Lice amongst pets fall in two categories— chewing and blood sucking. Lice that chew live on a pet’s dead skin, and cause irritation which can lead your pet to scratch. If your pet scratches itself, it’s important that you take it to the vet straightaway, since the chewing lice carry diseases and can transmit tapeworms. Lice that suck blood would do just that – suck blood. As in the case with humans, the blood sucking would cause itchiness and force pets to bite themselves. Left untreated, this can cause loss of fur.

Lice in Humans

Lice in humans are not a threat to health, neither are they an indicator for poor personal hygiene. Lice are a cosmetic inconvenience that’s very annoying so it’s best to see a lice removal expert so they can treat your lice accordingly. Stay away from prescription medication and over-the-counter products otherwise the ingredients in both could lead to an allergic reaction.

Come to Lice Busters USA in Miami

The best and fastest way to get rid of lice is by going to a lice removal clinic that offers natural, all-safe treatments.

Contact Lice Busters USA if you’re in need of treatment and book an appointment by calling (800) 405-8201!