Does anyone have any tried and tested methods of getting rid of rain scald??

Question

My horse has greasy lumps on his back and rump, and when i brush him the hair comes away in lumps leaving a bald patch. I have been making sure that i disinfect my brushes after grooming but it doesn't seem to be clearing up. This is the first time he's had it at his present yard, but he is extremely prone to mud fever and cracked/greasy heels. I'm sure its down to the damp weather we've been having but he is rugged up when its wet and muddy.

Can anything else be causing this? Whats the best thing to do to help it clear up quickly?

Many thanks x x x x

Answer 1

Sounds like Rain rot to me. Use lysol. YES LYSOL! It won't hurt 'em and its an old trainer/groomer trick.  

Answer 2

Well you answered your own question. Your answer lies with in that muddy, soggy rug you are leaving on your horse. Bacteria, especially fungus thrive in dark, moist areas. At this time of year it is perfectly safe for your horse to with stand wind and rain comfortably without having a turnout on them. Even the water proof blankets cannot be fully effective in keeping rain off your horse. The best thing you can do for your horse is take off that blanket, wash him daily with Mane N Tails PRO-TECT shampoo and conditioner which is formulated to aid in killing fungus and other skin ailments from scratches to rain rot and mites. Then follow up with M-T-G as another poster stated.

Keep that blanket off of him and allow what sun you do have to get to him. Even barn lights will aid in killing the fungus as most have a hard time surviving in sun or light exposure.

Answer 3

Homeopathic treatments for rain scald include:

Dulcamara 30c,Mezerium 30c,Rhus Tox 6c,Hypericum ,Sepia Calendula and Thuja  

Answer 4

It is rain scald.  It is likely that he has got too wet when he has either been washed or hosed down after exercisesor during exercise when it has rained and he has not been dried properly.  It is caused by a bacteria and ideally he should be stabled until the lumps have come off.  Listerine is a new one on me, but I should not think it is going to harm him if others say it works.  He needs an antibacterial of some kind.  Best to ask the vet, or others at your yard.

My horse had it because he developed an allergy to the shampoo I was using!  Another reason why you should only use horse products!

Answer 5

antidandruff shampoo seems to work with my horse...just pick it up at walgreens or wherever doesnt need to be for horses

or

the more expensive and longer route is crudd buster by cowboy magic that stuff works too, however i still prefer the antidandruff shampoo

Answer 6

they make an iodine wash that works great! i got mine at tractor supply for dirt cheap. wash  him with that 2-3 times for 1 week and then that should pretty much clear it up. if you notice it trying to come up again wash him in it again. when you wash him with it make sure you use a curry comb to get it in the coat well. I think I paid about $3 for the bottle.

Answer 7

I will always swear by Blue Kote.  It turns your horse into a purple paint, but it drys everything right up!

Answer 8

give him an iodine bath  

Answer 9

M.T.G ya sure it smells like rotton bacon but clears it up within a week

Answer 10

The first thing we do is use a soap-like betadine surgical wash (can be bought from the vets or good stock feeds stores) basically soap-that lathers good. Work that crust off that's created by serum oozing out through the skin. With gloves on, lather the horse good and try to break the scabs off, which is painful to the horse. Getting the scabs off and letting the air get to the ulcerated areas is the most important part, and it is the most difficult because the horse resists it. Since it's painful, sometimes it takes a couple of days working a little at a time.

There's a good site here with more helpful information - http://www.netpets.com/horses/healthspa/...

I hope this helps your horse, good luck xoxo

Source(s):

http://www.netpets.com/horses/healthspa/...

Answer 11

Rain scald is the same thing as mud fever, but on the body rather than the legs. It is bacterial and the bacteria live under the scabs which form. Gentle washing with a mild antisceptic to remove the scabs is part of it. The best treatment I got was from my vet - a mixture of flammazine and intrasite creams - kills the bacteria and reduces granulation and works very fast. It also has the benefit of actually removing the bacteria rather than suppressing them, so re-occurrence is less. The intrasite needs the scab off though to enter the wound.

Answer 12

I hate to say this, but the best true cure for any form of greasy heal, rain rot, etc. is a drier climate with more sunshine. Of course a heated barn with controlled humidity will help.  

Answer 13

You can use any antibacterial soap or shampoo. Head and Shoulders works. Wash your horse regularly at least until he clears up.

Answer 14

It is a fungus( aka Rain Rot) You can get listerine( mouthwash) and wash your horse off with it a few times a week.Or my vet has given me banamine to wash my horse off with when nothing else seemed to work, but the listerine is cheap and easy and usually seems to work!

Good Luck

Answer 15

Are you sure it isnt a mite problem?

Whichever it is - rainscald or mite there is a remedy for both.

You need 50ml of pure aloe vera.  (5 heaped tsps of aloe, make the rest up with boiled cooled water)

To this add 20 drops of lavender essential oil

and 15 drops of patchouli.  Mix together well and apply twice daily.

If you cant get patchouli try roman chamomile (10 drops).

This works a treat.  Have used it for my own horses in the past.

Keep the mix in a cool dry place out of direct sun and heat.  Keep the top closed and clean around it.

Answer 16

hi scrub your horse with iodine every day if possible and it should clear up in a couple of weeks or sooner depends on how bad it is or even try metho

Answer 17

try, Washing with tea tree oil daily and covering with vaseline, worked really well for my shetland, Also using mud fever cream worked well.

Answer 18

First of all, i agree that it sounds like rain rot.

Second, i really would not recommend the listerine trick.

Personally, i use a metal curry comb or a shedding comb to get as much of the rain rot out of there. Then i have a neat product called "MTG" (mane tail grow) by shapely. it is to help the growth of hair. you can use it on cuts, rain rot, horses who rub their tails, or you could just put it on their mane and tail to help them grow faster!

What it does is puts all the necessary nutrients into the horses skin in the area applied. it helps hair grow because it keeps it so hydrated! MAKE SURE YOU SHAKE THE BOTTLE BEFORE YOU USE! it is very oily and smells a lot like bacon!!

After i use the shedding comb/metal curry on my horses infected area i apply MTG on the bald spots.

my horse gets it on her face... so i have to put the mtg on a rag, and then rub it on her.

To prevent rain rot in the future, all you can really do is make sure you horse has a rain sheet on, or just keep your horse in the stall!

My horse is stalled a lot of the time, but she sticks her head out and get rained on that way! lol

Good Luck!