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Particularly, horses with lighter coat colors as well as horses with compromised or poorly developed immune systems have been found to be at higher risk. Specific environmental factors have been also been identified. Rain rot most often occurs when the skin has been compromised in some way. Compromise occurs during times of high humidity, prolonged rainfall, or increased exposure to biting insects. Horse owners should take steps to limit impact when these environmental conditions are present.
Make sure you’re checking the temperatures and not over-rugging as rain scald can also be caused by excessive sweating. Barrier creams should be avoided because they can be difficult to wash off properly and reduce the amount of oxygen reaching the skin, encouraging the Dermatophilus bacteria to multiply. If possible, bring your horse inside for a time to allow the skin to dry and protect from prolonged wetting of the horse’s coat. Sprays, such as diluted lemon juice or vinegar added to antiseptics like 5ml eucalyptus or thyme oil, and 4 cloves of garlic peeled and crushed are easily applied supports for rain rot. Add 5ml of Thuja to the spray for additional antifungal properties.
Spotting signs of infection
When a horse’s skin remains wet for an extended period, the outer layer becomes soft and compromised. Once the outermost layer of skin begins to break down, cuts and other abrasions can quickly form. In severe cases, your horse may need antibiotic injections given by a veterinarian. Skin biopsies may need to be conducted to identify if the cause of the infection and ensure it is rain rot. It is always recommended that you consult a veterinarian in any case when determining cause and making treatment plans.
Best applied by hand , rub generous amounts into and around the horses infected areas in a circular motion and watch the magic happen. The scabs will lift themselves from the skin and can simply be gently brushed away. We’ve found this technique great for even the most sensitive horses, as long as you apply a good amount of pressure it will almost feel like a massage and they will become a lot more tolerant of the removal. Some use Listerine directly, though it’s harsh on the skin. The horse may be lame, especially if the scabs are around the heels and coronet band.
Rain Rot Treatments for Horses – EquiSearch
Could you imagine itching yourself raw and bloody and not being able to do anything about it? So here are some very simple tips to helping your horse with most skin conditions. Yes, Banixx has anti-microbial and anti-bacterial ingredients that help fight rain rot and many fungal and bacterial afflictions.
Banixx is a great option that can be found at many local farm stores. Long standing cases may have large areas of scabs which merge together, giving a plaque-like appearance on the skin. White skinned areas seem to be more susceptible to infection. When the infection affects the lower limbs it is called mud fever and similar scabby lesions will be found, particularly on the back of the pastern and fetlock and the limbs may become swollen.
Home Remedies For Rain Rot
Congolensis is mostly dormant, but under wet conditions, this bacterium can cause an inflammatory infection resulting in lesions along your horse's skin. These lesions cause small patches of raised bumps which are scabs containing clusters of your horse's hair. Removal of these scabs results in bald patches along the affected area.
A soft scab is an easy scab to remove – and much more comfortable for the horses too. We’ve found the most effective way is a cheap and common ingredient you can pick up from your local store – coconut oil. Rain scald can be identified as scabs, often with tufts of hair attached to them. The hair on the scabs may stand up and look like paintbrush bristles. The scabs may vary in size and if removed, there may be yellow pus on the skin underneath the scab. The scabs can be painful to the horse if removed, but are not usually itchy.
Rain Scald in Horses: Treatment & Prevention
While it may start off mild, over time this contagious bacteria can spread and cause a considerable amount of hair loss. You might be able to treat this condition with a few items laying around your barn. All horses can be affected by this condition; however, there have been identified links with horse's coat colors and immune status leading to a higher incidence of rain rot.
Aside from making horse ownership rather unpleasant, our damp winters also bring about a variety of issues, one of which being rain scald in horses. I usually use topical aloe vera gel & tea tree for most skin conditions but there are many convenient products specially prepared for rain rot. Remember to watch the infected area closely to make sure it isn’t spreading. First, try to prevent further spread of this bacterial condition. If it’s raining a lot, consider bringing your horse in or using a rain sheet.
Far better to spot and remove scabs within a day – than wait until the infection has spread and you have a bald horse where recovery will take a lot longer. A horse will not become immune to rain scald or mud fever. If your horse has had it once, it may suffer from it again in the future, especially in wet and muddy conditions. Thoroughly inspecting the skin to identify early signs of rain scald is important and if there’s any concern, the vet should be contacted. Horses with a reduced immune function, such as those with Cushing’s Disease, are particularly susceptible to skin infections so treating anything underlying can reduce the risk of rain scald.
Mud fever has many names including cracked heels, scratches, rain rot, greasy heel, mud rash, and dew poisoning. It is a common condition, usually affecting horses lower limbs; especially the back legs, and particularly if they are white. If you don’t have shelter out in the fields but have a stable, it’s a good idea to bring them in for part of the day when it’s extremely wet.
Typically rain rot is found on the body of the horse, though it can spread all over the skin’s surface. Additionally, rain rot is extremely contagious and can be passed from horse to horse. Make sure you groom regularly and remove any clumped areas of mud as these can harbour bacteria beneath. However, if your horse lives out without a rug, avoid over grooming as this can strip the protective oils from their coat.
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