29/05/2023
Thank for the Trivia Hayop Town Veterinary Clinic🥰
“Biting Louse o Kuto”
Dog lice, known as Trichodectes canis, are small, flat, wingless, six-legged insects that live in the hair and feathers of mammals and birds. Strong hook-like claws at the end of each leg allow them to hang onto the animal’s hair shafts. The claws are tailored to the specific size of the host’s hair shaft or feathers, which is why lice are species-specific. They survive on skin debris, sebaceous secretions, feathers, or the blood of the host animal.
What Are the Signs of Dog Lice?
• scratching and intense itchiness
• pain
• inflammation
• hair loss- specifically around ears, neck, shoulders, groin, and re**al regions,
• rough, dry, or matted coat.
• small wounds or bacterial infections from bites by sucking lice.
• restless behavior.
• anemia in extreme cases, or in small dogs and puppies.
**In addition, Trichodectes canis can act as the intermediate host for the dog tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum.
How Do Dogs Get Dog Lice?
Lice have limited mobility; they can crawl, but are unable to jump, hop, or fly. Also, adult lice die in a few days if they fall off the host. Transmission is usually through direct contact with another infested animal, although they can also be passed on from contaminated bedding, dog collars, or grooming tools. Lice may be a threat wherever dogs congregate, such as dog daycare centers, dog shows, boarding kennels, and parks.
How Do You Get Rid Of Dog Lice?
• Treatment in severe infestations involves clipping matted hair off the dog because lice and eggs will likely be attached to that hair and hard to dislodge. You can also use flea combs to remove live and dead lice on the rest of the coat.
• keep him on a topical or oral monthly flea preventative. Ask your vet whether you need to keep him on this medication year-round to avoid lice.
• Insecticide treatments given topically or in shampoos will kill nymphs and adults, but will not eradicate the eggs, so any treatment will have to be repeated at regular intervals for one month or more. All dogs in the household should be treated. Be sure to keep an infested dog and his bedding away from other animals for at least four weeks after treatment.
• Make sure you wash all bedding, dog sweaters, leashes, and collars in hot water and thoroughly clean all areas where the dogs spend time to prevent a reinfestation. Some veterinarians recommend replacing your grooming tools because it can be difficult to remove the sticky eggs from combs and brushes.
• Lice generally attack dogs who are in poor health or who live in unsanitary areas. Improving the dog’s condition through better nutrition, grooming, and housing, will go a long way toward preventing future louse infestations.
(Source: American Kennel Club)
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