Lice
One louse. Two or more lice.
Knits = lice eggs.
Humans and animals alike are prone to getting lice. Lice are very species specific – meaning that dog lice do not live on cats/sheep/humans and human lice do not live on horses/cows/dog etc. They also don’t like to live off their host for long – so close contact of two or more of the same species is generally required for them to spread.
In cats and dogs, we rarely see lice. Many of our over-the-counter flea products will kill lice. In general, the only cat/dog cases of lice we see these days are on undernourished, unhoused kittens and puppies.
Lice on poultry and pet birds can be irritating. Chicken producers may notice a decline in production of eggs or in growth if their chickens have lice, since lice are irritating and cause the birds to become restless and itchy, rather than concentrating on feeding properly. The scratching and biting that ensue will often cause feather and skin damage, sometimes leading to pecking by other birds or self-mutilation. The lice can often be seen and eggs are often found at the base of the feathers. Treatment is usually by the application of an insecticidal powder or spray, sometimes by a drop or injection of insecticidal sheep/cattle wormer. The environment will also need cleaning and treatment.
The larger animals can be affected too. Cattle and horses can be bothered by lice and treated as required, though sometimes cattle producers will not treat if production is not reduced.
Lice on wool-producing sheep can have a big impact. The rubbing of the coat against any object can cause damage to the wool and significant financial loss for the producer, not to mention the irritation to the sheep. The best way to treat sheep lice is to avoid introducing them to your property – thoroughly check each new arrival and quarantine them for 6 weeks before introducing them to the flock. Also, ensure good fencing to prevent accidental new arrivals, or return of a wandering sheep with a new infection.
Diagnosis can be difficult in full wool, though the signs of scratching can be a good clue. At least 10 wool-parts need to be done on each animal to check for lice. There are also new tests which can be done on the shears after shearing which checks for a type of protein found in lice – this is very helpful since the best time for treatment is generally soon after shearing when the wool is short. Dipping, spraying or backlining are all treatment options to be explored and tailored to your situation.