Dog lice cases on the rise, Calgary veterinarian says

GroomerSarah McKinnondidn't notice anything unusual when she first started to clipher shaggy clientTimber.

But after the cut was doneand the golden doodle hopped into the bath, itbecame clear thathis muzzle, ears and groin were infested with lice.

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"I looked and there's little tiny pieces of dirt. You take one off and you take a look and you actually can see little legs," McKinnon, groomer at A Royal Touch.

After the initial "ick"factor,and the subsequent sterilization,she says she wasn't that surprised to discover it in her studio.

"I'm on a lot of online forums, talk witha lot of groomers, it has been really awful this year."

Dr. Wendy McClelland, owner ofVets to Go, saysshe hasbeen getting more calls than usual from pet owners asking about lice.

"I'm getting about a phone call a week with clients either concerned because they've heard that their [neighbour's dog] has it, or that thedoggy daycare they go to has it, or that their own dog has it."

McClellandcan't explain the spike in calls.

She saysdogs pick up the highly contagious parasite by beingin close contact with other infected dogs.

They can also get it throughindirect contact with thingslikegrooming tools that haven't been properly cleaned.

As for whether its weather-related, McClelland says no.

"It has been a warmer spring but lice aren't really affected by weather because their 21-day life cycle is all on the pet."

McClelland says the symptoms are easy to spotand include:

• Extreme itchiness (head, neck, shoulders, hind end).
• Bald patches.
• Adult lice look like specs of dirt.
• Eggs (nits) arewhite andflaky, attached to the hair shaft.

McClelland says pet owners shouldn't be afraid to take a close look if they suspect lice because it'shost-specific. Dog lice stays on dogs they won't infecthumans or other animals, like cats.

The bug is also relatively easy to get rid of.

"There are various options from pills,to shampoos, to pour-on liquid to the back of the neck. Basically you repeat it every two weeksfor two or three treatments."

Owners should alsowash down or toss outbedding andgrooming tools.