Can Dogs Get Human Head Lice?
Thursday September 7, 2006
Questions often arise over what diseases our pets can catch from us and vice versa. Zoonotic diseases are those that humans can "catch" from animals. Is human head lice a parasite that your pets can catch if they snuggle up to an infected human? Read this FAQ by the About.com Guide to Dogs, Krista Mifflin.
Comments
I have four children, three of them are girls. Needless to say lice has been a huge issue with our family in the past. I found lice killer products online and we have been lice free for over 6 months and counting!! Check them out for yourself they are safe for all ages, they offer an execellent treatment for your homeand the treatment is even safe for pets. They saved my life!!!
Mother of four,
What is the brand of treatment that you found online to work. I have 2 girls that attend several camps during the summer and they have very thick hair and seems to attract lice like magnets. My youngest has been treated 6 times over the course of the last 4 months and they just keep coming back. Help!!
When I was about twelve (six years ago) I had lice that just wouldnt go away. It takes a while to do each night, but there is this comb that vibrates (it looks kind of like a razor) and when it catches a thing of lice… the vibrating stops. then you take this brush and swipe the lice out. (oh and the vibartion kills the lice too) then after each treatment you use alcohol to dip the comb in and kill any extra stuff left on it. I think i had to use it for about a week and they were gone. along with washing pillows and bedsheets and hats and what not.
My children are now grown, but years ago we had a bout with head lice that simply would not go away…no matter how many times I went through the ‘entire’ routine of heads, furniture, clothes, etc. I had called the Doctor’s office and the health department, but didn’t learn anything I didn’t already know. I thought I was going to lose my mind. One day I realized one of my children had lice at the base of her eyelashes! Being unable to use the strong shampoos in this area, I picked them out with a tweezer. That was the end of the lice problem! So…I would recommend you explore the eyelashes and eyebrows if the problem is persistent. (As I said…this is something the Dr. and health department seemed to be unaware of). Best of luck.
The answer is no, human and canine lice are species specific. There are some ectoparasites and fungus’ that we can get from our dogs or cats, sarcoptes, ringworm and then the intestinal parasites. So if you are in a constant state of lice infestation at your home (which sucks if you are) then there are things that are not being taken care of.
Another thing, re fleas. They do not want us. so if a human is being bitten, then let the cat bakc into the house. Or maybe you have recently moved into a new home or apartment where a infestation has already been there. THey will bite humans if the 4 legged variety is not available.
Jeri,
The best brand to use, I’ve found, is LiceMD. It is a thick oil that is put in the hair, then combed out with a nit comb,.
this really does work. Growing up over and over our family would alway contract this horrible little bugger. We used every product know to man even doctor prescribed medications. Finally we got the best advice ever. Vaseline !!! better known as petroleum jelly. No meds, no smell, and no harmful chemicals. but it does take a while to wash it all out. Start on a Friday so you have the whole weekend to do it. Completely coat your family’s entire heads with massive amounts of it. Then cover it with a shower cap or some kind of plastic bag ( we used grocery bags…twisted tight and tied tight) then sleep over night like this. When you wake the next day comb through with a nit comb ( do not wash or rinse out the Vaseline before though) the comb will pull the majority of it out. The bugs and eggs will get trapped in it and come out in clumps. Lice bugs breath through there sides the petroleum jelly get stuck in there sides and suffocates them while you sleep. Plus the jelly help the eggs slide right out of your hair. It works wonderfully. hope this helps.