This page quotes a published document. Everything below in quotation marks is copied word for word from https://capcvet.org/guidelines/lice/, published by CAPC and retrieved on 2026-09-16. The quotations are excerpts; the document itself is linked and is the authority. Nothing has been reworded.
This page quotes the Companion Animal Parasite Council guideline for Lice, section by section: the opening sentences of 7 sections, copied without change and linked to the guideline, which was retrieved on 2026-09-16. The guideline itself is the authority and carries the full text.
The guideline
Companion Animal Parasite Council, Lice, at https://capcvet.org/guidelines/lice/. Retrieved 2026-09-16. Each heading below is the guideline’s own, and the quotation under it is how that section begins. The full section, and the species tabs where the guideline gives them, are on the linked page.
Species
Linognathus setosus (canine sucking louse) Trichodectes canis (canine chewing louse) Felicola subrostratus (feline chewing louse) Linognathus setosus is a sucking louse occasionally found on dogs (particularly on long-haired breeds) and wild canids throughout the world. It causes little irritation except in heavy infestations, in which the lice can cause anemia due to blood loss.
Disease
Usual signs of louse infestation are irritation and damage caused by the host such as rubbing, scratching, and biting of infested areas. Heavy infestations may cause severe pruritus, restlessness, intense scratching, a ruffled or rough matted coat and sometimes alopecia.
Prevalence
Infestations are more prevalent in very young, old, or debilitated animals or animals maintained in unsanitary environments. Chewing lice are fairly common on dogs and cats around the world.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on clinical signs and on demonstration of the louse or its eggs.
Treatment
Louse infestations are readily treated with many flea control products. Fipronil, imidacloprid and selamectin are all effective for dogs and cats.
Control and Prevention
Newly acquired dogs should be examined and treated if infested. Infested pets should be quarantined and treated before coming into contact with other pets.
Public Health Considerations
These parasites pose virtually no public health risk, because canine and feline lice do not infest people and human lice do not infest pets. Rarely, T. canis has been reported as a source of cysticercoids of D. caninum that could infect humans or dogs and cats that happen to ingest infected lice.
Continue reading public health considerations on capcvet.org
Sources
- capc-liceCAPC · retrieved 2026-09-16
“Usual signs of louse infestation are irritation and damage caused by the host such as rubbing, scratching, and biting of infested areas. Heavy infestations may” (Disease)
Related
From Glarda
The note drafted from the consult, with the reference you just read sitting beside it in the shape your record already expects.