Can I Use Head Lice Treatment on My Dog?

A dog can become infected with head lice. While your dog may not exhibit significant clinical signs, you should check his head, neck, and under his collar to see if lice are present. It may take several weeks for lice to develop into full-grown adults, so it is important to detect them early.

Head lice can be treated with topical insecticide treatments available by a veterinarian. These treatments are applied to the back of the dog’s neck and are often effective in preventing further infestation. These treatments work by killing adult lice at the time of application and continue to kill new ones as they hatch.

Lice are a nuisance and can affect your dog’s health in numerous ways. Itching and loss of sleep are the most common symptoms of an infestation, but it can also cause your dog to be prone to tapeworms. Once the lice have been eliminated, you should treat your dog for tapeworms as well.

Although head lice and fleas are similar in appearance, the two species are different. Dog lice are small, flightless insects, which look like brown critters. They are one-half to one-half mm long, and have six legs that are short and have tiny claws on the end. These insects attach themselves to your dog’s hair, fur, or feathers, and are difficult to remove. In addition to the head lice, your dog may also be suffering from nits, which are smaller versions of adult lice. They can look like white sand on your dog’s fur, and are often overlooked by pet owners.