What do lice look like on dogs? - briefly
Dog lice are tiny, wingless insects about 1–3 mm long, gray‑brown, flattened, and crab‑like, clinging to hair shafts and moving quickly through the coat. They appear as moving specks or small dark dots, most often seen around the head, ears, neck, and base of the tail.
What do lice look like on dogs? - in detail
Lice that infest dogs are tiny, wingless insects measuring about 1–3 mm in length. Their bodies are flattened laterally, giving a smooth, elongated appearance that allows them to move easily through hair. Color varies from light gray to reddish‑brown, often matching the host’s coat, which can make detection difficult.
The insect consists of three main sections: a small head bearing short, clawed antennae; a thorax bearing six legs, each ending in a single hook used to grasp hair shafts; and an abdomen that tapers toward the posterior. Legs are noticeably shorter than those of fleas, and the absence of hind‑leg jumping adaptations is evident.
Eggs, called nits, are oval, about 0.5 mm, and adhere firmly to hair shafts near the skin. Nymphs resemble miniature adults, lacking fully developed reproductive organs, and mature into adults after two molts over 10–14 days.
Typical infestation sites include the head, especially around the ears and muzzle; the neck and shoulder region; the base of the tail; and the ventral abdomen. Lice remain on the surface of the skin and do not burrow, so they are most often observed clinging to hair shafts rather than moving freely on the skin.
Key differences from flea infestations: lice do not jump, remain close to the host’s body, and are usually found in clusters on specific regions. Fleas are larger (2–4 mm), more robust, and exhibit rapid, erratic movement.
Detection is most reliable with a fine‑tooth comb or a lice‑specific inspection brush, applied while the dog is restrained. Under good lighting, adult lice appear as moving specks; nits can be distinguished as stationary, oval structures attached to hair. Magnifying lenses or a handheld microscope improve identification accuracy.