Hyalomma/Bontpoot Tick - HELP PSE!! - Page 2

In my woods we have two kinds of dog ticks, texas and rocky mountain.  Dear ticks the size of a freckle, and what the locals call turkey lice the size of a pour in your skin.   The dogs and I have already been eaten up.   Frontline may kill them but it doesn't stop them from biting.   And I can't walk out of the yard without Permanon sprayed on my boots and pants.  All of which I'm sure isn't healthy for me or my dogs.      I'm thinking of moving because southern Indiana is seriously infested.

Maybe the arctic.

Hi everyone....thx for all your replies and questions!!!  I must admit you gave me a good laugh!!!  I am very happy to tell you more about this nasty creature we have here in South Africa.  It is called a "Bontpoot" because it has striped legs - red body about the size of a garden pea but flat and is found in areas where there are cattle, sheep and goats, as well as antelopes and other hoofed wild animals.  No, the tick itself does not have to be removed surgically - ha ha ha - but what it does is cause necrosis of the skin around the bite - often this goes unnoticed until the area is quite large - I have seen bites of between 2cm and 14cm in diameter (the latter if they are not discovered quickly enough).

So the skin rots and gets pussy (not kitty, but full of pus) and often the dead skin has to be incised and the wound sown together.  What is nasty about these guys is that they hold on for dear life, so don't pull off as easily as your normal big fat blue ticks.  My experience is that you grip them hard and with a quick anti-clockwise pull should get them off without leaving the head behind. The are very agressive and mobile. The bite area/limb whatever is extremely painful and the dog will winch from the gentlest touch - usually a sure sign of a Hyalomma bite.

The wound must be treated as any other against infection - I keep wound clean, put on some Rapha (excellent South African product) and something like Betadine.  I also gave her some anti inflammatory/painkiller - now its just a matter of time and prayer that the hole doesnt get bigger.  I think we are over the worst as the dead skin has fallen off so should be no more necrosis.

I dip my dogs regularly, essential as I live in the bushveld, but have to change the treatment as they build up  resistance.  Frontline is great but very costly as I have a whole bunch of dogs.

Comment to the member who read about my other dog's PF problem - of course I wont be breeding with her!!  The problem has been brought under control and she is well as long as she is on her medication - the vet specialist who treats her is happy with her progress - thanks for your concern.

Have an awesome weekend all of you

Ciao