Q: Do pets get lice? Can people get lice from their pets?
A: Yes, lice can affect dogs and cats, just as humans get lice. Lice infestations in pets are not as common as it is for children.
Lice are also species-specific parasites; which means that they cannot move from one species to another. Thus, humans cannot get lice from their pets nor can pets get human specific lice from us. Similarly, dogs and cats also have different sets of species-specific lice that affect them.
Dr. Jangi Bajwa is a Board certified veterinary dermatologist at VetDERM Clinic in Surrey BC. He is also the dermatology feature editor for Canadian Veterinary Journal. Dr. Bajwa’s special interests include otitis and allergic disease in pets; as well as helping improve quality of life of pets and their families.
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