Does your dog feel like scratching various parts of its body all day long? Then it may be that he is struggling with a parasite.
The most common pests here are fleas and lice. But how do you know if Your dog has lice or fleas?
And then what should you do? Find out the answers in the following guide.
Does my dog have lice or fleas? This is how you can tell the difference
Lice and fleas have one thing in common: they cause severe itching in dogs.
But where is it? difference between the two parasites? You can tell them apart by the following things.
1. The size & the color
fleas are commonly between 2 and 4 millimeters «big» – almost impossible to see with the naked eye.
In addition, the flea acts a little «flat» and is also mostly brown-black in colour.
lice are also relatively small. you will be about 1.5 millimeters «big». Like fleas, they don’t have wings. Lice are usually transparent or greyish.
Good to know
If you suspect a flea infestation, you can use this trick to find out whether this is actually the case.
You take one of the dark spots from dog fur and put it on a damp piece of kitchen paper.
Does the stain now red, your dog has fleas. Why? Behind the stain is hidden Flea droppings enriched with the dog’s blood is.
2. Nits
At nits is it the Lice eggs. They have a habit of sticking to that fur or that dog hair to glue.
They are elongated in shape and usually cannot be easily removed from the fur.
Good to know
Also, if lice usually no other diseases transmitted, set them for the dog health risk represent.
Puppies in particular can suffer from anemia if they are heavily infested with lice.
This should also not be underestimated risk of inflammationwhich can be triggered by the constant scratching.
What helps against lice and fleas in dogs?
closeup flea
The most important thing to do if your dog has lice or fleas is:
Clean, wash and disinfect everythingwhat has come into contact with your dog.
Because: The eggs of both parasites can survive for several months and can therefore set up home on your dog again at any time.
If a flea or lice infestation is already obvious, they usually help Medicines and bath additivesthat you can get from the vet is best.
home remedies may represent an alternative, but should not necessarily be used in the event of an infestation.
Why? As effective as they can be in prevention – It has not yet been scientifically proven that they are actually 100% effective are.
Fleas in particular should be rendered harmless as quickly as possible – for the simple reason that they usually bring other pathogens with them.
Good to know
There are certain combswith which you both Comb fleas and lice out of dog fur can. These are particularly fine-toothed.
Can I prevent such parasites in my dog?
closeup louse
There are a few remedies you can use to prevent the two parasites flea and louse.
On the one hand, this is about Spot Onsi.e. chemical agents, and on the other hand around home remedieswhich can also be effective.
coconut oil
Coconut oil not only helps against ticks – the Odor and the contained lauric acid can not stand. Coconut oil is also effective against fleas and lice.
Essential Oils
Also a few essential oils can be effective in parasite prevention. But please be extra careful here.
Because these oils – among other things lavender, mint and lemon – may only be used heavily diluted.
The reason: you irritate the dog’s skin and also the mucous membraneshe should lick the treated areas.
If you opt for such treatment, discuss this one for sure in advance with your veterinarian.
In this way you avoid causing even greater damage with your help.
rosemary
This popular kitchen herb can also help to prevent fleas, for example. You cook one for this rosemary brew on.
Then you can do this Spray on your dog’s coat and skin.
Regular coat control & grooming
Of course, you cannot always rule out the possibility that a flea or louse will settle on your dog.
However, you can with one regular coat check and grooming check whether everything is «clean» here.
Especially with lice applies: On healthy fur also prevents infestation. Because these parasites mainly settle on dogs that have unkempt fur.
Can fleas and lice be transmitted by dogs?
Clear answer: no! Then «only» one of the two parasites makes it easy for us humans too. Namely the Escaped.
lice against it stay true to their main host, if you will. So they are not transmitted from dogs to humans, but from dog to dog.
They also apply not as carriers of diseases.
This applies primarily to fleas – which is why pretty much every vet sounds the alarm if your dog has them. Because they can including worms transfer.
Good to know
From lice are mainly stray dogs and hunting dogs affected. These often come into contact with other strays or – in the case of hunting dogs – with them fox denswhere lice are unfortunately not uncommon.
Conclusion
Whether your dog has fleas or lice, you can based on various differences recognize – starting with the Sizethe Color and the excretions respectively eggs.
If your dog has already had an infestation, you should enter at this point appropriate remedy at the veterinarian fetch.
Because a home remedy may be the natural alternative – replaced in terms of effectiveness, unfortunately still not the pharmaceutical meansthat are on the market.
How is your dog doing? Has he ever had fleas or even lice? If so, what means did you use to get rid of them? And what do you use to prevent the tormentors?
Feel free to share your tips with us in the comments.