Lice

[oconnorjoy]

Pebbles was just diagnosed with lice. We don't know where she got them as she is rarely around other animals other than Bamm Bamm (dog) and Gazoo (cat). We are living in a new home that has hardwood and tile. The vet said that we caught it right away and treated her, Bamm Bamm, and Gazoo with Revolution. Neither Bamm Bamm or Gazoo showed any signs. She also gave me Flea and Tick shampoo and wants me to bath Pebbles tonight and then again in two days. Do you have any other suggestions of what I should be doing. I am going to wash all their bedding. Help...I feel terrible and don't know what I could have done to prevent this.

Joy

[k9Karen]

I'm so sorry to hear about your problem. Poor Pebbles!

My only suggestion is to clean any carpet in the house and treat it with a product that kills lice. I suspect that's where the eggs were. If you can afford it, it would be best to have the carpet, and perhaps the entire house, treated by a professional exterminator.

Good luck.

[Traci]

Can you call your vet back and confirm using the flea/tick shampoo.....I would think this is defeating the purpose of the original Revolution application, not to mention two harsh substances on the skin so close together. Also, if your kitty cuddles with the dogs, make sure the flea/tick shampoo does not contain permethrins or botanicals toxic to cats.

[oconnorjoy]

Hi Traci,

My vet said that the revolution seeps into the skin within two hours and goes to their bloodstream and starts working that way. She wants the baths as a followup as it can take awhile for the revolution to work. I checked on the shampoo and it contains pyrethrins....it says that it is good for dogs and cats. I still haven't given her her bath as I am now confused. She only weighs 7 lbs and I don't want to do anything that is going to make it worse. Gazoo, the cat does cuddle up to Pebbles when they sleep.

[Traci]

If your vet sent home with you the shampoo, call him back and confirm it's safety for cats....permethrins are toxic to cats. Also ensure it is not an over-the-counter product as many of them are equally as toxic to cats (some for dogs as well). Double-check the label and if there is a pyrethroid that has a permethrin-base, my advice is to keep the cat away from the dog.

Organophosphate toxins to pets

[k9Karen]

I love the picture of Pebbles! What a cutie!!!

[davet]

just an aside but my best friend was a pediatriciaon and he used to always blame the pets for giving the kids lice....i used to blame the kids for gibing the pet lice...its all in your perseptective

[k9Karen]

just an aside but my best friend was a pediatriciaon and he used to always blame the pets for giving the kids lice....i used to blame the kids for gibing the pet lice...its all in your perseptective

Aren't they different species?

[davet]

yes in most cases but even those are opportunists....althiugh i never did really check on that...but i suspect it was more than coincidnec the the kids and cats (never dogs) were both infested.....i suspect like mosquitoes, they show no preference...

[oconnorjoy]

Thanks for the suggestions....Pebbles is responding well to her treatment and the house has been cleaned from top to bottom. I'm still not sure how she got them. Our house is new and there is a minimum of carpeting. We do take her and Bamm Bamm walking in a farmers field so Pebbles can go visit her cows (she loves them). They are on expandable leashes so would it be possible that if she sniffed at a dead animal (mouse, bird etc) that I didn't see she could have caught them that way? There are coyotes around here as well but Pebbles never has opportunity to be near them. I'm also curious why she got them and not Bamm Bamm and Gazoo. The vet checked them over carefully and couldn't find anything. (she treated them anyway)