Aside from ticks and fleas, another common issue for Goldendoodles is dog lice. These pests look similar to dandruff on humans, and can easily be identified on your pup due to their brown or tan coloration.
Pet hair shafts can become home to hundreds of nits that hatch into nymphs and eventually adults. Each stage takes around 2-4 weeks to complete its life cycle, with multiple molting phases taking place before maturity.
In this article, I’m going to explain everything you need to know about Goldendoodles getting infected with lice.
Can Goldendoodles Get Lice?
Yes, there is no doubt that Goldendoodles can be infected with lice. However, it is best to keep in mind that if your goldendoodle shave been properly groomed, they will not have lice accumulated on them.
The thing is that Goldendoodles suffering from a louse infestation will scratch and lick to relieve their itching. Unfortunately, this could lead to small wounds that could become infected.
These lice feed on debris, sebaceous secretions or blood from their hosts. They tend to be most prevalent on dogs who are in poor health, live in filthy areas or spend time with strays or wildlife.
What Does Dog Lice Look Like?
Dog lice look similar to fleas, but are much lighter in color – usually yellow or white compared to dark brown or black fleas. Lice also have six short legs with small claws on the end for attaching onto hair shafts.
If your dog is suffering from a severe louse infestation, you may notice their hair to be matted and rough-looking. These clumps of hairs are known as nits and are an indication that there has been an outbreak.
In severe cases, lice can cause significant skin irritation and itching that results in scratching, biting, over-grooming and sometimes even trauma to the host fur or plumage. Apart from that, large populations of bloodsucking lice types can lead to anaemia (blood loss) and weakness in their host.
How Do Goldendoodles Get Lice?
The thing is that it is very common for lice to transfer from one dog to another. These usually occur when an infected dog is around. For instance, your dog could get lice by simply playing with another dog at the dog park.
Another way your Goldendoodle could be infected is through share contaminated dog items like bedding, dog collar, or boarding kennels. The best thing you can do is keep separate grooming tools for your dogs.
Types of Dog Lice
Lice are small, wingless insects that live in the hair and feathers of mammals and birds. Their claw-like ends allow them to attach onto a host’s hair shaft or feathers for sustenance.
These parasitic lice feed on skin debris, sebaceous secretions, dried blood and the host’s own blood to stay alive. Chewing lice such as Trichodectes canis and Heterodoxus spiniger chew on their hosts’ hair while sucking lice like Linognathus setosus suck blood from them.
The good news is that, lice infestations can be treated with various over-the-counter and prescription anti-lice preparations that require multiple doses over 10-14 days. Examples include Pyrethrins, Permethrin, Lindane, Rotenone, Methoxychlor, Diazinon, Malathion and Coumaphos.
Why is Dog Lice Harmful?
Lice are parasitic pests that live on animals’ skin and hair. Like fleas, lice can cause itching, inflammation, pain and may even lead to health complications.
Dogs with lice infestations usually display signs of stress, dullness and dry, scruffy coats. Not only that but these dogs are more prone to developing secondary microbial skin infections due to scratching due to stress or scratching.
They can also be hazardous to dogs as they are highly contagious. Once an adult louse attaches to your dog’s head, it lays eggs (known as nits) at the base of its hair shaft. These eggs hatch approximately one week after being laid and develop into adult lice in three weeks.
Conclusion
As you can see, it is very common for dogs to get lice, but the good news is that if somehow your Goldendoodle get infected, then there is no need to worry since lice can be treated with liquid medication applied directly onto your Goldendoodle’s skin or prescription topical treatments. Some treatments also employ chemicals which kill fleas.
Hope you find this post helpful!