The short answer to one of the top questions about head lice, “Can Dogs & Cats Get Lice from Humans?” is “No, pets cannot transmit their lice to humans”. With the simple answer out of the way, the purpose of this article is to explain how this could be.

Why are human and pet lice not able to be transmitted between dogs and cats and their owners?

Lice are species-specific (whether head lice or body lice), which means that different types of lice infest specific animals. For example, human lice infest humans, dog lice infest dogs, and cat lice infest cats [1][2][4][5]. So, you don’t need to worry about getting lice from your pets [3]. It’s important to note that good hygiene and regular grooming can help keep lice and other parasites away from your pets [2]. If you suspect a lice infestation in your pets, it’s best to consult with a veterinarian for appropriate treatment.

Dogs and cats can get lice, but do not transmit it between their species.

Additionally, if you have both dogs and cats in your home, you don’t need to worry about the lice from your dog or cat jumping to the other one either. Both species can get lice, but they are species-specific pests. Cat lice only affects cats, dog lice only affects dogs, and human lice only affects humans.

To reiterate, both dogs and cats can get lice, but they are not the same type of lice. Lice are species-specific parasites. This means that the lice that infest dogs, cats, and humans are different from each other and cannot be transmitted between these species [10][11][12][13][14].

Are there any other parasites besides lice that can be transmitted between pets and humans?

Yes. Although lice cannot be transmitted between humans and pets and visa versa, there are several parasites that can be transmitted between pets and humans, BUT NOT LICE. Here are some of them:

Remember, regular veterinary visits, preventive vaccinations and medications, and good hygiene habits are key factors in preventing the transmission of these diseases. If you suspect your pet has a parasite, it’s best to consult with a veterinarian for appropriate treatment.

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Short Hair? Head lice Don’t Care! As a Mom of two boys with short hair I could easily fall into the trap of thinking that my boys won’t get head lice because they have short hair. This is so not true! Lice do not care if your hair is short or long, they just want to find a nice happy home to lay their eggs and live happily ever after with their lice babies.

Boys typically will not share other people’s hair brushes at school, but they may trade a ball cap with one of their buddies. This is the perfect scenario that lice thrive in . . . being passed around from head to head with Billy’s favorite hat. Then the hat comes home in Billy’s backpack and guess what? Billy has lice and you have head lice at your house where you and everyone else in your family live and can become invested!

If you are one of the unlucky ones that gets head lice in your home, then be prepared for a lot of cleaning, vacuuming and laundry on top of the usual amounts of cleaning, vacuuming and laundry! It can be safe to assume that the lice will not be a welcome visitor to your home, so the best way to prevent this from happening is to do frequent head lice checks and daily use of Schooltime® Spray Away hair product. Using Schooltime® Spray Away on lice free hair will help keep it that way and maintain a lice free life for everyone in your home.

Kids will be kids and as a mom I don’t want my boys to have to worry about head lice (nor do I need more cleaning than I already have), so I do frequent head lice checks, spray their hair every morning before school and style as usual. Their hair smells fantastic and looks great too. If I happen to forget the Spray Away, they always say “Mom, don’t forget the Schooltime!”.

Using Schooltime® Spray Away helps me arm my boys with a natural defense against the dreaded little head lice critters and gives me a peace of mind knowing I won’t have to spend tons of extra hours de-lousing our home.

Let’s face it, head lice happens, but it doesn’t have to happen to you! Have a lice free day and prevent head lice with Schooltime® Spray Away.

With social media came “selfies,” and they are everywhere. The variously styled self-portraits of one or more people, whose heads rest close together, has introduced an interesting question: Does the “selfie” put teens at increased risk for lice?

Although this topic has gotten quite a bit of media attention, there is currently no evidence that justifies this concern.

An estimated 6 to 12 million infestations occur in the country each year among preschool and elementary school children (3 to 11 years of age), according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). However, data on teenagers and young adults — the ones who take most of the “selfies” — is not generally collected. This is because these young people do not typically get lice.

My personal experience supports this. I can say that neither myself nor my colleagues have seen any increase in lice in the children and young adults we treat in our practices.

Is my teen at risk?

The short answer is: No. It would be very unlikely. Here’s why:

Should I have my child treated just in case?

Overtreatment is potentially more dangerous than an infestation of lice resulting from taking “selfies.” The products and services (such as local “lice clinics”) used to commonly treat lice can cause your child significant side effects and discomfort, and they can cost a great deal of money./p>

It’s also more likely that you’ll confuse dandruff, dried hair products, and dead skin — all side effects of treatment — for lice and nits, resulting in prolonged and unnecessary treatment. What’s more, mistaking the problem for lice can cause your child to miss school for no reason. It can also create stigma and embarrassment for your child.

This is why it’s important to see your healthcare provider for a definitive diagnosis. If in doubt, the best resource is your pediatrician or family doctor, who can ensure that you avoid unnecessary treatment and expense.

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