Can Dogs Get Lice? How To Keep Your Buddy Scratch-Free

It’s always a bit…hair-raising when your buddy comes home scratching themselves to death. But if you’ve ever wondered – can dogs get lice? – then, sadly, yes, it can be the case that your dog can run into these infectious critters. (Who’ve now made themselves home in their fur!)

Turns out, a whole range of outdoor spots can land your buddy with a louse infestation – from contaminated surfaces to spending time around other dogs. Some types of dogs might also be extra-vulnerable to these kinds of infections as well. So we’re going to cover how to pick up on your dog’s favorite hangout spots – including where they come home extra-itchy from – and what steps you can take to prevent (and manage) an infection.

Find out how your dog spends their time.

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Can dogs get lice? What are some signs of lice on dogs?

Yup, just like humans, dogs can get lice as well. These tiny parasites attach to their skin and feed on their blood. (Gross, we know!) Usually, this’ll turn up as your dog:

• Scratching themselves more than usual,
• Losing some hair from the excessive scratching,
• Rubbing their face on the floor
• Red, dry, scabby skin
• Matted fur
• Sores or lesions from biting and scratching
• Showing visible lice in their fur
• Seeming more restless than usual

⚠️ Don’t see lice in your dog’s fur? Something else in your environment might be triggering any scratching or itching.

Read more: Why Is My Dog So Itchy? (And How To Bring Them Some Relief)

Can dogs get lice from humans? Or pass it on to us?

Now the good news is, lice on dogs doesn’t pass on to humans. Nor can you get lice from your dog (or vice versa.)¹ How come? Well, for starters, dog lice tend to be species-specific. Primarily, these louse species tend to be found on dogs most:

•  Trichodectes canis (which can also help spread tapeworms to your dog)
• Heterodoxus spiniger,
• and Linognathus setosus²

None of which pass on to humans or other animals. Rather, these pests live on the skin and fur of dogs, feeding on their blood or skin debris. So if your child comes back from school with a head full of nits, these aren’t likely to pass on to your dog.

🤔 Which raises the question – where IS your dog picking up these lice from? Makes keeping tabs on your dog’s whereabouts throughout the day a good idea, if you ask us. (Especially if they’re in the habit of spending time outdoors by themselves.)

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Can lice live on dogs? And how?

Much like fleas, lice are small insects that grow in numbers by laying eggs (called nits.) Once the nits are attached to your dog’s fur, they might resemble dandruff or white flakes from a distance.³

• Nits are usually small, oval, and may be yellow or white in color. They may hatch in 1-2 weeks.
• Once the nits hatch, they become nymphs – smaller versions of adult lice. By 2-3 weeks, they’ve usually grown up from feeding on your dog’s blood.
• Once the nymphs are adult lice, they usually live on dogs’ fur for around 30 days – during which time, they continue to lay eggs.

Where might dogs get lice from?

If your buddy’s picked up a bad case of lice, it’s usually due to contact with other animals that also have lice in their fur. (Or from contaminated surfaces they share with these animals.) Which could be from:

• Dog parks, where spending time around other dogs might open up the risk of infection
• Dog day care centers
• Group training classes or walking groups – especially ones that take place outdoors in nature
• Kennels or boarding facilities, where your dog might end up sharing food or water bowls with other dogs
• Other contaminated surfaces, like bedding, collars, and even toys – super important if you’ve got multiple dogs at home!
• Grooming centers, where your dog might come in contact with other dogs – and any infected fur.
• Elsewhere outdoors, like if you’re in the habit of going running, hiking, bikejoring, or camping with your dog – and they run into other dogs at campsites, for example.

💡Now why is it smart to pinpoint exactly where your dog might be coming home extra-itchy from?

Because if it’s a case of something worse than lice – like fleas, which can also infect humans – you now have your own health to worry about besides your dog’s. Besides, some louse species can also operate as carriers of other, more harmful parasites – like tapeworms.⁵ Which can make your buddy’s health worsen beyond just scratching and restlessness.

Are some dogs more likely to get lice than others?

While any dog can get infected with lice, it’s more commonly seen among:

• Puppies, who might even suffer anemia as a result of the gradual blood loss.
• Older dogs, especially those living in dirty environments.
• Ill and/or malnourished dogs, who might end up scavenging for food in dirty environments.
• Dogs with long, shaggy coats, including Afghan hounds, Lhasa Apsos, Maltese, Shih Tzus, Yorkies, Pomeranians, Newfoundlands, Old English Sheepdogs, and Bernese Mountain dogs.⁶
• Dogs living in warmer, humid climates – conditions that help lice thrive.
• Outdoor dogs, who might be spending time around other dogs in communal spaces or out in nature.

How your vet might identify & treat lice on dogs

Now if your dog’s been scratching themselves to death or losing fur in patches, it’s a good idea to drop by your vet before their condition worsens. Watch out for excessive scratching around your dog’s ears, neck, shoulders, and even their butts. (And if you’ve got multiple dogs at home – bring all of them to the vet for a checkup.)

It’s also a good idea to go prepared to answer questions like:

• When did your dog’s symptoms first appear? Has your dog had them before?
• Did you make any changes to your dog’s food, outdoor privileges, or other routines recently?
• Is your dog primarily an indoor or outdoor dog? How often do they head outdoors?

All these questions can help you both better identify where your dog might’ve picked up any lice or “scratchy” substances from – which could also include dust, pollen, and other insects.

💡(See why it’s smart to have a log of your dog’s favorite outdoor spots to share with your vet?)

Diagnosing lice on dogs

Your vet will begin with a thorough physical examination of your dog’s skin and fur – from nose to tail. They might also take a scrape of your dog’s skin to examine under a microscope to rule out the presence of lice, or other pesky critters, like ticks, mites, or fleas. Or use a special lice comb to check for any nits or larvae in your dog’s fur.⁷

With that out of the way, your vet might prescribe you:

• Topical medication to get rid of the lice over a specific time period. (Usually 2-4 weeks.)
• Medication that they might administer orally or via injection, usually over a few weeks.
• Lime sulphur dips, which they’ll apply to your dog’s body over a few weeks.⁸
• Medicated shampoos that are specially designed to kill lice and nits.
• A vet-approved flea and tick preventive, which can help keep your buddy safe from other infections as well.

What can you do to prevent lice on dogs?

Now while it’s good to stay aware and take steps to get your buddy some relief – it’s always better to prevent them from picking up lice and other infectious critters in the first place.

Here’s how you can get started.

Clean just about everything – from top to bottom

Something in your dog’s environment might’ve turned it into an “itch”-prone zone – like their living and sleeping area, if you’ve got a primarily indoor dog.

So make sure to keep these areas clean with regular washing – including your dog’s:

• Bedding
• Toys
• Food and water bowls
• Any favorite shirts or sweaters you leave behind when your dog’s alone at home
• Favorite couches or sofas around the house
• Grooming tools, including combs and brushes
• Your bed – especially if your dog likes to sleep next to you
• Any other items your dog likes to use, play with, or interact with on the regular

Got multiple dogs at home? You’ll have to whip out the vacuum and cleanup mops much more frequently. But with these preventive steps, you’ll be that much better off preventing another infection.

Make regular grooming a priority

Regularly brushing out your dog’s fur can help spread their natural oils better – which can prevent matting and tangling. (All conditions that can attract lice, since they can hide better.)

• In fact, some dog breeds that are vulnerable to lice, need more frequent brushing and grooming to keep their coats soft and free of tangles.
• With a regular grooming routine, you’ll also catch onto nits and lice faster – and get your buddy to a vet much in advance, before they grow in numbers.
• Just make sure you’re using dog-friendly grooming products that are medically-approved and designated safe for use.

Read more: 5 Easy Dog Grooming Tips You Can Do At Home: The Ultimate Guide For Dog Parents

Keep track of your dog’s movements

💡If you’ve strapped a Tractive device to their collar, it automatically logs where your dog’s been spending most of their time throughout the day.

So you can figure out if they’ve picked up a case of the itchies from:

• The dog park,
• A kennel or boarding facility,
• Your neighbors’ dogs
• Or just about anywhere your buddy might end up wandering (or sneaking out!)

All with just a glance at your phone.

Discover Location History

Wondering how to tell if your dog has lice? Here’s a helpful video to get you started:

And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.