Lice are visible parasites with no wings, six legs and a compressed appearance. The egg casings are tiny white spots that are called nits. They are particular about where they like to infiltrate and to make their homes. There are two different types of lice. There are the ones that suck blood, and the other type of lice, which like to chew skin.
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Lice on Kittens
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The lice method of invasion is to slowly work through the hair of kittens. They affix their grainy white eggs to the hair shafts and then begin to nourish themselves. They become so attached that it is hard to brush the eggs off the shaft. They typically spend their whole cycle of life on one kitten.
The obvious signal of a lice invasion can be seen in the hair coat, which becomes increasingly dry. This can cause loss of hair and intense itching. If it is an extremely active infestation of the blood-sucking type of lice, it can cause anemia. Lice tend to feed off kittens that are malnourished.
Killing Lice on Kittens
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Kitten lice cannot be transported to humans. They move from kitten to kitten, or from materials that have been infested. Lice are far easier to eradicate than other parasites. It is simple to kill the lice with the same treatment used for flea removal.
Bathe the kitten in Mycodex Pet Shampoo. Put cotton in the kitten's ears and artificial tears in the eyes for protection. Start shampooing the neck first and work down to the tail. Rinse well, wrap the kitten in a towel and dry using a hair dryer on the lowest setting. This needs to be repeated in approximately two weeks to ensure that all the lice have been killed.
Herbal home treatments may also be used for lice on kittens. The herbal treatments may be more gentle on a kitten's skin. Lemons, which contain d-limolene, repel lice naturally.
Lice Prevention
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After the lice treatment, disinfect the instruments that were used for grooming, as well as all bedding. This is important to prevent additional infestations.
Foggers used for flea and tick treatments can help prevent future infestations of lice from taking hold. It is safe to spray in the home and a pet's bedding area. Follow the instructions on the brand you buy, to determine how big an area can be treated, and how long the space must be avoided after spraying.
Recovering From Lice
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If your kitten is still scratching, ease itching by giving her vitamin E supplements in powder form. It should be added to the kitten's food three times a day. Check the dosage with your veterinarian.
If your kitten is anemic, add 1/8 tsp. of yeast to the kitten's food. Yeast contains B vitamins that aid with red blood cell manufacturing, so it helps with anemia.
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