Can Dogs Get Lice? Everything Pet Parents Should Know About Dog Lice

If you ever had lice as a kid, you may get the heebie-jeebies at the memory of the parasitic bugs crawling in your hair.  

You might feel a similar ick once you realize that dogs can also get lice, though the species that affect them are different from those that affect humans. 

In this article, you’ll learn what dog lice are and how they’re managed and prevented.

What Are Dog Lice?

Dog lice are parasites that live on the dog’s skin. These flat, six-legged, wingless insects feed on the dog’s blood or tissue debris. 

Dogs have two main species of lice: 

1. Linognathus setosus: This is the canine sucking louse, which has a narrow head for sucking blood. 

2. Trichodectes canis: This is the canine chewing louse. This louse has a wider head for grasping onto furs. These lice feed on tissue debris. 

T. canis are more common than L. setosus.  

During a lice infestation, female lice lay their eggs (nits) in the dog’s fur. These nits are cemented at the base of the hairs. When a nit hatches, the louse will go from a nymph to an adult all while on the dog’s body. 

Although finding out your dog has lice can certainly cause you to freak out a bit, a lice infestation isn’t an emergency.  

The lice are contagious to other dogs in the home, but they’re very host specific. This means you, other people in the home, and cats in the home should generally be safe from your dog’s lice.

Symptoms of Dog Lice

Most symptoms of dog lice are related to itchiness.  

You may notice: 

• Rubbing, scratching, and biting at infested areas 

• Restlessness 

• Ruffled or matted coat 

• Hair loss (alopecia) 

• Skin infections from repetitive chewing, licking, and scratching 

• Visible lice or nits in the fur 

Rarely, sucking louse can drink enough blood to cause anemia. This would require a very heavy and untreated infestation. Risks are higher in young dogs and dogs without adequate parasite protection. 

Causes of Dog Lice

Dog lice are usually passed through direct contact between dogs, but the eggs can also pass between dogs on grooming equipment if it’s not properly cleaned between animals. 

Infestations are more common during the cooler months of the year. Lice are more likely to be an issue for young, old, or sick dogs who live in unsanitary conditions.  

Pets who aren’t kept on parasite prevention have a higher risk of getting lice as well. 

Diagnosis of Dog Lice

A veterinarian can diagnose a dog with lice by finding lice or eggs on the dog.  

If the veterinarian is not sure what kind of parasite is on your dog, they may send the insects to a pathologist to be checked. 

To help your veterinarian make a diagnosis, make sure to tell them: 

• What parasite preventives you give the dogs in your home 

• When you last gave parasite preventives 

• If your dog has recently traveled anywhere or stayed in a boarding facility 

Treatment of Dog Lice

Lice are easily treated with many of the same products that control fleas.  

The following antiparasitic drugs can treat lice in dogs: 

• Fipronil (used in Frontline Plus) 

• Imidacloprid (used in Advantage II) 

• Selamectin (used in Revolution) 

• Topical permethrin (do not use with cats) 

• Flumethrin/imidacloprid collar (like Seresto) 

• Afoxolaner (for T. canis) 

• Fluralaner (for L. setosus; used in Bravecto) 

Some of these are used off label when used for treatment or prevention of lice. 

Treatment is not effective against nits, so it may need to be repeated one week later to kill any nymphs that hatched.  

You can speed up the death of eggs and other young lice on contaminated items, such as brushes or bedding, by putting them in hot, dry conditions (such as a clothes dryer). 

Recovery and Management of Dog Lice

Lice should begin dying within a day or two of the treatment. Remember that some treatments may need to be repeated about a week later to reach all life stages of lice.  

If there is skin inflammation (swelling) or hair loss, it may take several weeks for the skin to return to normal and for hair to start to regrow.  

You can consider using a soothing shampoo (such as Douxo S3 CALM) to ease skin inflammation.  

If you’ve used a topical, parasite-killing product, you need to ensure you’ve left the product on the dog’s skin for as long as the instructions say before bathing to ensure you don’t wash the product off too soon. 

Prevention of Dog Lice

Regular use of flea preventives is usually enough to prevent lice infestations. Any of the options mentioned in the treatment section may be good for preventing dog lice. 

If your dog is visiting a groomer, ask the groomer how they clean their equipment between pets.