Vlasoids are small transparent white insects. Their mouth is equipped with thin teeth, so they have a highly developed gnawing apparatus. Usually they feed on particles of animal skin and hair, while they can still suck blood. Such insects start in dogs mainly on the street, since stray animals are carriers of various parasites.
What are the consequences of lice for an animal
Vlase-eaters are dangerous primarily because they can act as a carrier of diseases between species, and the dog can become infected with various serious diseases. It does this by injecting blood particles from other animals, such as rats and mice, into its blood. The insect settles on the body of a sewer rat and feeds on its epithelium, after which it bites through it, so microscopic molecules of blood cells remain on the body of the louse. After a while, the louse moves into the body of a larger animal - in this case, a dog, and the blood that remains on the hairs of the insect infects the blood of the pet. Getting into the internal environment of the body, the causative agent of the disease multiplies and disrupts its normal functioning. The danger also lies in the fact that there may be several pathogens, because there are many insects.
If the dog is very young or quite old, then from such an intense attack of harmful bacteria, death can occur within the first few days after infection. Likewise, parasite saliva can enter the pet's bloodstream. There is another danger as well. From the activity of the lice, the dog will begin to itch, and open wounds form on the body, which must be disinfected as soon as possible. Through these injuries, bypassing the skin, harmful bacilli can enter the pet's body. The animal can get sick with a rather severe and intractable disease.
Signs of a dog's lice
There are certain signs that intruders have settled on the pet's body. If your pet has at least one of the symptoms, then you should worry about the further welfare and health of the animal and immediately see a veterinarian.
Possible symptoms are as follows:
- your pet has irritated parotids, tail, neck, and thighs. Their presence may clearly indicate that the dog is constantly scratching;
- the animal's hair has faded and does not have a healthy ebb, bald spots appear on it and it leaves the body in shreds;
- your dog began to rarely eat due to lack of appetite, began to sleep restlessly, constantly jumps up, you can read alarm from its behavior.
To accurately determine whether parasitic insects are present on your pet's body or not, you can bring a light to its back. The lice beetles creep out onto the light source, making it easy to recognize even their number (at least roughly).
You can expect the appearance of this insect if there were constant problems with caring for the animal, or if preventive procedures were carried out irregularly. For this reason, do not neglect the hygiene and cleanliness of your pet, as this is fraught with the appearance of diseases, both external and internal. As often as possible, carry out procedures to prevent the appearance of parasites, regularly take your pet to the doctor. Cleaning should also be regular and your pet's litter should be changed in a timely manner.
What is the main danger of a dog with lice?
In fact, in the initial stage, lice are extremely itchy. But the longer it tortures the dog's skin, the deeper it gets into the epithelium, thereby causing negative consequences for the normal state of your pet.
If the situation is running and there is a strong infection, then there are signs such as:
- wool falls out, its general condition worsens;
- the dog's body reacts to parasite bites with allergies;
- dermatitis or eczema occurs;
- anemia appears when the louse has multiplied on the body of your pet and the number of insects is already quite impressive;
- weight drops greatly, since when parasites appear, the animal's body is depleted;
- The louse can cause other parasitic insects to appear on your pet's body.
For humans, these insects are also not safe. It is assumed that the louse can pass onto the human body and settle in it. A person may not initially suspect about it. This happens when the owner has no idea that his pet is already infected with parasites. The presence of a small number of insects may look natural at first, without any outward manifestation. But the animal at this time is already scratching and gnawing those creatures that give it discomfort, and then during the game the dog can bring the parasite larvae into the host's blood. And in this case, the development and reproduction of insects will occur in the internal environment of the human body, and then professional medical assistance may be required. Therefore, the louse can be transmitted from dog to person, but this is best avoided. The main thing is to recognize in time that your pet has got parasites.
How to get rid of a louse in dogs
As soon as a parasitic insect has been noticed on a pet, it is necessary to immediately begin to eliminate it. Treatment should be as effective as possible in order to eradicate the population completely and in the future, the eater does not bother your dog.
At the initial stage, you can use various means aimed at destroying insects on the dog's body. They can be:
- drops;
- collars;
- special shampoos;
- aerosol sprays;
- special powder.
In case of a serious illness, frequent water procedures for the animal are not recommended. An important aspect is that it is best to use products with natural, natural ingredients, since chemical additives can cause an allergic reaction in your pet. If you decide to use a special shampoo to destroy parasites, keep in mind that its duration is short and the treatment process will need to be repeated after a certain period of time. In the case of collars, you need to remember that they are used not as a means to eliminate insects, but for preventive purposes.
Powder can alleviate the condition of the animal for some time, but this method of treatment is not effective in comparison with others, since the powder has the ability to quickly crumble from the dog's fur. The urgent principle of the destruction of the louse should be applied if the situation has passed into an advanced stage. Therefore, in this case, it is best to use drops and sprays for treatment, they will help to overcome the infection and alleviate the condition of the dog until he recovers.
If the treatment does not lead to the desired results, you should consult a doctor. A good veterinarian will diagnose and provide quality treatment. It is important to remember and inform the doctor about all the circumstances of the disease, how it all began, how long and by what means the treatment was carried out. It is worth understanding the seriousness of the situation, because improper self-treatment can cause irreparable harm to your beloved animal.
Treatment of a dog from a louse with folk remedies
If you prefer to use folk remedies, then they can be used to destroy parasitic insects. It is not necessary to resort to expensive advertised means, since products of the chemical industry can sometimes have the opposite effect. For example, a pet may be allergic to a component.
Many experienced dog breeders, in the event of the appearance of lice and other pests, recommend using a decoction from the series, which must carefully process the sick animal. Similarly, it is worth trying the use of a powder made from dry crushed chamomile or wormwood. For preventive purposes, the use of turpentine is recommended; it is not forbidden to wash your pet with tar soap. In case of the formation of wounds on the animal's body, it is worth disinfecting them with peroxide and drying them with brilliant green. In this case, it is worth paying particular attention to the cleanliness of the dog's litter. Wash often in hot water with plenty of powder, wormwood can be added. Vinegar and kerosene can be added to the same mixture, but this is not for everybody.
Thus, the appearance of parasitic insects can seriously harm the normal state of your pet. The parasite can cause many dangerous diseases, and in extreme cases can even lead to death. Therefore, it is important to prevent the presence of lice at an early stage and engage in in-depth treatment in time.
