Rumors of dog lice in Carson City Dog Parks unsubstantiated, says Parks and Rec
Rumors about a potential outbreak of dog lice in two Carson City dog parks went through social media last week and early this week, but according to David Navarro, Parks Operation Superintendent for Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space, those rumors are unsubstantiated.
“To date, there have been unsubstantiated reports of dog lice at Sonoma Dog Park and nothing reported regarding any of our other parks,” said Navarro. “City staff has been in contact with local veterinarians and the Nevada Humane Society to insure we are providing accurate and timely information to the public. In addition, staff has been providing outreach efforts in person through Carson City Park Rangers and through social media to educate pet owners about dog lice, as there has been erroneous information distributed throughout the community.”
According to the Nevada Humane Society, dog lice lives and is spread from direct contact between animals, and only lives a few hours once separated from the host, said Navarro.
“So, from a maintenance perspective, there is not much the City can do, other than help educate the public with factual information,” he said. “The diagnosis, treatment and preventative measures should come from a veterinarian.”
If you family is dealing with dog lice, or if you suspect you are, call your veterinarian for a thorough inspection. It is important to treat not only the pet but also the pet’s environment such as bedding, carpets, clothing, furniture, crates, toys, etc. to make sure the lice is not reintroduced to the pet.
The good news is, dog lice cannot be spread to humans; lice species are species specific and will not go back and forth.
Lice are visible to the naked eye, you can check for them by parting your dog’s fur and examining the hair shaft. Adult lice are large, roughly the size of a sesame seed, and can be yellow or tan.
Sometimes smaller lice or eggs are mistaken for dandruff. One way to differentiate is to shake hair removed from your pet. If the flakes fall off, it’s dandruff; lice, both bug and egg, will cling to the hair.
Some sings of a lice infestation include:
- Scratching
- Dry or matted coat
- Hair loss, especially around the neck, ears, shoulders, groin and rectal region
- Small wounds
- Anemia
- Tapeworms
As always, getting monthly flea and tick preventives greatly reduces the potential for a lice infestation, along with flea and ticks.
If you have cats at home, make sure to always check with a vet before self-treating your pet at home with an insecticide, because some of these are highly toxic to cats.
If you have additional questions about dog lice, be sure to call any local veterinarian, or the Nevada Humane Society.
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