What exactly is dog lice? Many people have never heard of it. They wonder if it’s the same type of lice that feeds on humans, and if it’s communicable to their family.

Even though it isn’t exactly front-page news, dog lice is a parasite that can take up residence even a clean, well-groomed dog. In this country, dog lice isn’t particularly common, especially among dogs that live in homes instead of kennels or shelters, or even on the street. But occasionally even one of those lucky dogs with clean homes and proper care and attention can pick up dog lice from a romp through the woods.

For that reason, you should be familiar with the symptoms of dog lice, and know how to deal with it if the problem comes up. It’s rare that dog lice gets this far, but if allowed to progress without treatment, it causes severe irritation and itching. Eventually it even develops into anemia, because your dog loses a lot of blood.

What do the lice look like? Dog lice are flat, wingless parasites that appear either gray or white. They’re tiny, about 1/12 of an inch in length, but you can see them. You wouldn’t call dog lice energetic — they prefer to stick in one place and feed. Like all kinds of lice, dog lice are very picky about their hosts, and are totally uninterested in non-canine residents of the household. This includes both humans and cats.

There are actually two varieties of dog lice, both of which exhibit very different behavior. The first type actually chews your dog’s skin, and feeds on the flakes that result. The second type feeds directly on your dog’s blood. Both types cause severe irritation in your dog.

What are the signs that your dog has been struck with dog lice? Intense, serious scratching and irritation, a dry, rough-looking coat, and sometimes, bald patches. Dog lice are typically found around in the tender spots around the neck, shoulders, ears, and anus. Although the lice themselves are relatively sizable, you’re more likely to spot their eggs. The eggs, or “nits,” are easier to see because they clump around the root of your dog’s hair and look like a tiny dusting of snow.

The great news about dog lice is that it’s relatively cheap and easy to treat. The relative rareness of dog lice in this country means that the lice haven’t yet built up a resistance to our insecticides. Your vet will probably recommend a weekly bath with medicated shampoo, or possibly an insecticidal spray. If your dog’s hair is very matted, he may ask you to have it shaved or trimmed before you begin to treat your dog.

Typically, you’ll repeat the bath or the sprays until your dog’s itching disappears and you can’t find any more nits. But if it’s your puppy that’s infected with lice, be sure to talk over any medicated treatment with your vet before you get started.

Now that you’ve gone to all that trouble to eliminate the problem, you’ll probably want to make sure your dog remains lice-free. A good way to go about this is to toss your dog’s bedding, and disinfect any areas where he sleeps or snoozes throughout the day.