To wonder about vegans/headlice

[Fanfeck]

Headlice are unfortunately at the forefront of my hairline mind today and I'm wondering what vegans, or anyone who is totally opposed to the killing of animals do about them?

I'm not one of them, kill them all (lice I mean!) is what I say!

[sj257]

I'm vegetarian and an animal lover. I don't think I see headlice as conscious beings with feelings, never even thought about it really.

[HeCantBeSerious]

Subject has been done to death on here.

[Fanfeck]

Could you link me please hecant because I couldn't find any answers.

[Grilledaubergines]

Does that mean it can't be discussed for those who want to? Surely if you take issue with re-discussion you can avoid the thread?

[champersandgin]

I'm sure they would comb them out without chemicals. Otherwise, if they had kids, they'd have to home school and/or social services would eventually become involved as it would be classed as neglect.

(I would like to take this opportunity to mention that there ain't no headlice like Canadian headlice. Been here 3 months and my DD has had them 3 times already grrrrrr)

[DoYouRememberJustinBobby]

I hate that "the subject has been done to death business". How many new people join MN on a monthly basis?
MN also never seems to the kind of forum (we've all seen them) where admin bookmark a topic and say all discussions of xyz topic most only continue in that one place.

I will be interested to hear replies OP.

[TwentyCups]

I feel the same way I would about tapeworms, crabs, fleas, ticks, or indeed a lion running towards me teeth bared!
I will kill them because they will harm me (although I'm not likely to succeed in the last scenario!).
I am prepared to make many sacrifices but not when something will cause me pain and physical discomfort. Honestly, if there were some sort of humane treatment i would probably use it but there isn't and there are bigger battles to fight.

[AuntMatilda]

I'm vegan. I kill fleas, headlice and other parasites. I don't kill other bugs. We draw our lines somewhere. Obviously prevention is better than cure but sometimes we can't do any other but deal with things like this accordingly.

[almondpudding]

Surely it is okay to kill parasites?

Otherwise vegans would have to cause cruelty to domestic species by not killing parasites on them, like worms, scabies etc.

And some vegans own pets.

If you comb headlice out they still die! They can only survive on the host.

[almondpudding]

Sorry, xpost.

[Pallisers]

Subject has been done to death on here.

Really? I have been on MN for more than 5 years and can't remember any threads about this still less it being "done to death"

And even if it was done to death who gives a curse - OP has asked a question. Interested people will respond. There really is nothing new under the sun. So should we all shut up for the next few millennia since it has all been said already?

[Fanfeck]

Thanks for the replies, that makes sense! I had visions of people safely popping them out the window or something but confused as they will die once removed regardless!

Such awful things, DD is 5 and we had escaped them until now I've been trying to remove for weeks but I'm either doing something wrong (tried chemicals, combing, V comb, tea tree) or they keep coming back from school, and I found a big fat one in my hair today

[VeryBitchyRestingFace]

I've been on MN since the year of the short corn and have never seen a thread about this topic.

As you were, OP.

[OnTheTurningAway]

Ah well we don't like to kill living beings unnecessarily.
So we make a small offering, light some incense and offer a prayer for their tiny souls, then eat them.
Obviously.

[Bogeyface]

Been on MN for years and never seen a thread about it before.

Do Buddhists kill the lice or not? Thats been bugging me for years!

[pregnantat50]

Headlice are insects and not animals so not sure they fall into the same category.

My daughter had terrible problems with them as a child, she then grew out of it so it seemed, now she works in a primary school I think they have tried to touch base with her again! The perils of working with the under 5s

[SpeakNoWords]

Insects are animals!

[pregnantat50]

wow, you are right! I honestly thought insects had their own category, I will consider myself stupid...lol (I've got to 51 without knowing that and I watch all the Planet Earth type documentaries too!)

[almondpudding]

OP, I recommend a nitty gritty comb and Hedrin once.

[YouCanDoThis]

I used to brush dc hair in the morning, go through with the metal nit comb and plait. After school, I would undo the plait, go through with the bit comb again. Every day. That way, anything picked up was removed before it had chance to make itself at home and we never had a problem!

[user1477282676]

My DH used to be vegan and he saw them as vermin and so not something he felt he needed to protect....mainly because they cause harm.

He wouldn't hurt a snail though and they're a bit verminous Nor a rat...

[GreatFuckability]

Headlice aren't harmful to humans though. Annoying as all hell, yes, but they don't hurt us. I'm not sure we can compare them to a lion

[AnnieAnoniMouse]

I'm a vegetarian - (lapsed vegan, but try to avoid using animal products etc). I try to prevent being in the position of having to kill anything. Mosquitoes get warnings, but if they're still biting me & wont be shoo'd out, then eventually they get the newspaper treatment. Same with flies. Head lice I'm vigilant with combing, but if needs must then treatment is used.

I'm veggie, not perfect.

[user1477282676]

Fuckability yes they are harmful...minor of course but they cause itching and irritation and in extreme cases, can cause low iron.

[Ditsy4]

Combing and conditioner. Every three days if you have them. Also thumbs up for Nitty Gritty comb. Also a pure bristle brush and brush every night. It is why the Victorians brushed a hundred strokes. Pure bristle brushes have lots of bristles so it breaks the legs of the lice. It also makes your hair shiny. I also work in a school. I never had them until I was 36!

It was mentioned in a thread recently but who cares we can talk about it again.
SS only get involved if it is very severe as in a nest, hair mattered and head has to be shaven.
They can be harmful if they are allowed to get to that stage. The head has to be shaved and it can be open weeping sores! Infection can then get in.g