The Human Head Louse

The human head louse, Pediculus humanus, is one of several kinds of lice with mouthparts specialized for sucking blood. The small, wingless insect has a flattened body about 3 mm long, with a claw on the end of each leg that helps it cling to the hair of its host. Females lay whitish eggs, called nits, once a day, attaching them to the hair with a sticky substance until they hatch in about a week. Head lice are unpleasant and undiscriminating guests. They infest people who bathe often as well as those who do not, leaving itchy red spots on their hosts’ scalps. C. Significance of the study This study is to help the CANIS FAMILIARIS (dog) owners, to make the dog’s hair beautiful. It will also help the mother earth, instead of using bad chemicals that are harmful to our environment. So, by this study we could not just only help the CANIS FAMILIARIS (dog) but at the same time the mother earth. D. Scope and Limitation The COLEUS AMMBOINICUS (oregano) leaves extract on the CANIS FAMILIARIS (dog) hair, to make it beautiful. But it couldn’t use to the human’s hair. Because there are possibility that it have side effects to the human body.

The dog (recently reclassified from Canis familiaris to Canis lupus familiaris, see below for details pronounced is a domesticated form of the Gray Wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The domestic dog has been one of the most widely kept working and companion animals in human history. Amongst canine enthusiasts, the word "dog" may also mean the male of a canine species, as opposed to the word "bitch" (the female of the species). The dog quickly became ubiquitous across culture in all parts of the world, and was extremely valuable to early human settlements. For instance, it is believed that the successful emigration across the Bering Strait might not have been possible without sled dogs Dogs perform many roles for people, such as hunting, herding, protection, companionship, and, more recently, assisting handicapped individuals. Currently, there are estimated to be 400 million dogs in the world.

Over the 15,000 year span that the dog had been domesticated, it diverged into only a handful of landraces, groups of similar animals whose morphology and behavior have been shaped by environmental factors and functional roles. As the modern understanding of genetics developed, humans began to intentionally breed dogs for a wide range of specific traits. Through this process, the dog has developed into hundreds of varied breeds, and shows more behavioral and morphological variation than any other land mammal. For example, height measured to the withers ranges from a few inches in the Chihuahua to a few feet in the Irish Wolfhound; color varies from white through grays (usually called "blue'") to black, and browns from light (tan) to dark ("red" or "chocolate") in a wide variation of patterns; coats can be short or long, coarsehaired to wool-like, straight, curly, or smooth. It is common for most breeds to shed this coat, but non-shedding breeds are also popular Dog lice is a rare condition in which one of two types of lice latch onto a canine and begin a colony, using your dog's blood or dead skin for nutrition. They are generally quite small, growing a maximum of one-twelfth of an inch in length. They are flat in shape, and move very slowly. The parasites themselves are grey, and have no wings.

How can I keep my dog from becoming infected? As mentioned earlier, lice is rare among dogs, and not something that requires constant inspection. However there are a few measures you can take to help prevent the contraction of lice. Try not to share grooming supplies with other dog owners, as this is one of the more common ways lice is contracted. If your dog comes into contact with a strange dog, make sure to give them a visual inspection. If you have to leave your dog at a kennel or at a friend's house, inspect your dog after bringing them home. If you can catch lice early, before they breed, it will save you a lot of trouble.

How can I tell if my dog has been infected? One external sign of lice on a dog is excessive scratching. If you think your dog may have been infected by lice, take a comb and go through their fur. They will either be attached to the hair follicles, or directly on your dogs skin. You may see eggs as well, which are small, white and usually sticky. Lice are small, but can be seen by the human eye. They look like little black dots with a clear lining over them. They may resemble dirt, since they do not move frequently. If you are in any way unsure about if your dog has lice, take your dog to a professional groomer and they will be able to identify if your dog is infected.

What can I do if my dog has become infected with lice? If you have confirmed that your dog has indeed contracted lice, you have a couple of treatment options available. There are many over-the-counter lice shampoos available at many stores that will clear up the infestation. Likewise, some professional groomers are able to remove lice for you, if you are unable or unwilling to do so yourself.