Lice?

[Rain]

If a dog has lice.. can people get lice from the dog? If your dog does have lice, and people can get lice from the dog... what then?

[shanniesue2]

are you talking about lice as in head lice? what kids get sent home from school for? because everything I've read about head lice has said that animals can't get head lice. Unless there is another kind of lice that dogs get?

[Rain]

Dog lice.. not head lice.. I called my vet and asked.. so turns out you cannot get lice from a dog, and dogs cannot get lice from you. So, guess I answered my own question

[bernicesmama]

very interesting.....fyi if a person get's head lice, after treating it with medication use coconut shampoo/conditioner. lice can not stand the smell/taste of it.

[Rain]

That's an interesting tid bit of information.. I'll have to remember that.. coconut smells so yummy..

[pung-yo]

Dogs around here don't get lice, but I know that some kids do get sent home for lice. I think dog lice can't survive our cold winters lol. Thanks for the info Nikki, if I end up with lice, I'll try that, heaven forbid lol.

[shanniesue2]

I have lots of suggestions for dealing with head lice (I've sent way too many kids home with it). The most important thing if you get it is, after you kill the bugs, to get ALL of the nits (eggs) out. 1 louse can lay up to 300 eggs.
Other than Rid or Nix, you can use oil (olive oil, veggie oil, doesn't really matter what kind). Just drench your head in oil, wrap with a bag or shower cap and a towel and let it sit for several hours. Some people I know will sleep like this. 1. It suffocates the bugs and 2. It makes the nits easier to remove 3. It's a good treatment for dry hair and scalp . You can also use the Hair cholesterol (what black people use on their hair). Same principal.

Other interesting facts about head lice:
1. They don't jump
2. They prefer squeaky clean hair because it's easier to hold onto. This is why black people don't get lice--lice can't hang on in the grease and oil they put in their hair.
3. Several ways to reduce your risk of getting head lice are: Blow dry your hair (they don't like heat), use some kind of hair product (makes the hair shaft harder to hold onto), and wear your hair up (loose hair runs a higher risk of coming in contact with someone's hair that has lice)