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In severe cases, lesions and scabs may become large and affect multiple layers of skin. When this occurs, the horse's use may be impacted until the infection clears. As a final tip, and possibly one of the most important, learn to try and spot the symptoms of mud fever and rain scald as early as possible. Spotting and treating the infection early will provide a lot more relief for your horses – and probably you as well! As with most things, a minor case is a lot easier to treat than a major one.
Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) is an anti-bacterial substance as well as a great natural wormer and killer of fleas on dogs and lice and mites on chickens. It’s also great for breaking the insect cycle by sprinkling into areas of infestations where the dogs lay and sleep and where chickens roost and the dust rolls where they fluff their feathers. It dries out the outer hard shell of the insect and kills them that way. Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic and has anti-fungal properties. • If your horse has Rain Scald or Mud Fever once, it does not become immune and can suffer from it every winter.
Home Remedies For Rain Rot
Rain scald can occur all year round, although it’s most common when there are long periods of wet weather with warm temperatures and high humidity. The bacteria thrive when there is limited oxygen, so the condition is usually seen in the winter months when horses’ coats are much longer. Rain scald is a common skin disease that acquired its name because the condition causes the skin to look as though it has been scalded by rain droplets. It’s also known as dermatophilosis or rain rot and it’s caused by the bacterium Dermatophilus congolensis – the same organism that’s responsible for causing mud fever on legs. However, with the right antimicrobial shampoo, and a diligent attitude, rain rot is easily treatable. Due to its contagious nature, it is best to keep any horse dealing with rain rot isolated from the rest of your horses.
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.
Preventing Rain Rot
Ensure that daily you are grooming your horse and checking for any signs – especially if you know you have a horse who seems to be more susceptible to the disease. We have 9 free lessons that I think might just change you and your horse’s life. You can read more about the veterinary information around rain scald at this link. Everything you need to know - from buying your first horse to care advice and information on specific health issues.
Long-standing cases have large areas of scabs that merge together into one large plaque of coarse hair. Once the skin has become damaged, it can be invaded with secondary bacteria. Affected animals can be quite uncomfortable, especially when the affected area is touched. Cushing’s disease, or Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction is a chronic, progressive condition caused by an imbalance in the hormones produced by the pituitary gland. The disease commonly affects horses and ponies over the age of 15 and due to rising life expectancy rates, it is becoming increasingly prevalent. Offer minerals, especially copper and sulfur, which are needed for the keratin to support hair growth.
Tips for getting rid of mud fever or rain scald in horses
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.
Include garlic in the diet for its antiparasitic properties and to discourage biting flies. Tonics are a great addition to a horse’s diet to avoid susceptibility to rain rot. Some have had success with Listerine and baby oil combined . However, the Listerine can cause skin irritation in some horses. Try to avoid hosing off your horses legs unless absolutely necessary, and if you do, ensure you fully dry the horse off afterwards.
Wash the affected areas with either a chlorhexidine or povidone iodine solution and warm water. Use a soft cloth or brush to massage the lather through the coat as much as your horse will tolerate. This will clean the area of any contaminants, remove a lot of loose hair and scabs, and help to improve circulation. There’s quite a few preventive measures you can take, as well. This can include daily grooming, changing and cleaning blankets, providing a run-in shelter, sanitizing saddle pads, keeping up with mud in pastures, and proper nutrition.
Horses with compromised immune systems are more at risk for rain rot. Multitudes of bacteria and other microbes that live on your horse’s skin, and most of them pose no direct threat to your horse’s health. However, when these bacteria and other microbes get underneath the surface, they can cause serious health issues like skin infection, commonly referred to as rain rot. All it took – was a bathing session, some coconut oil and a 3 day application of mud gel and his skin notably cleared up – and he was a lot less itchy! Within 7 days of the final treatment his coat shine is starting to return and he was certainly a lot happier in himself – and hair regrowth was coming through his bald patches. It is contagious through sharing rugs, brushes and saddle pads etc.
Localised infection of the legs with Dermatophilus is referred to as mud fever. Mud Fever occurs mostly around the coronet, heels and pastern in horses but can also occur higher on the leg or belly. It is caused by a bacterium known as dermatophilus congolensis which thrives in wet conditions and therefore the condition is more common during the winter months. Interestingly, the bacteria that causes rain scald can be passed from horse to horse by flies, sharing rugs and tack and even grooming equipment.
This will usually be needed daily until the area has healed. If the saddle area is affected, the horse may be unable to be ridden until it’s successfully treated. Rain scald is a non-contagious skin condition (meaning it doesn’t spread from one horse to another or to people) that can be caused by the same bacteria asmud fever1. Rain rot and skin infections are one of the most common things I see in my incoming horses.
Once you have removed as many scabs as possible, wash or spray the affected areas with either a chlorhexadine solution or povidone-iodine solution for 7 to 10 days. Dry the skin thoroughly after each wash and keep dry until the next application. Topical application of antibiotic cream may be useful but barrier cream should be avoided until the scabs have been removed as they can be difficult to wash off. It would be worthwhile washing items used for the grooming the affected horse in the same solution. Do not share items of tack or rugs with other horses to prevent spread.
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.
Rain Rot on a horse
Similarly, be sure to disinfect and replace contaminated grooming tools and other equipment as needed to prevent spread. While most often found on the horse's topline, rain rot can be found on numerous areas of the horse's body, including their rump, face, and legs. Therefore, it is important that regular, thorough full-body examinations occur. Hands-on palpation may be needed when examining your horse for rain rot, particularly during winter months, as increased coat length makes visual assessment difficult. Unlike many other skin conditions, areas with rain rot do not typically itch but can be painful and cause your horse to become sensitive to touch. The ‘paintbrush’ scabs should be gently removed and disposed of.
The infection can pass from horse to horse, so try to segregate any horse with the infection away from horses with no sign of infection. We also suggest an antibacterial wash for any grooming equipment used on an infected horse to help prevent the spread to others. Rain scald is a condition generally found during autumn and winter months and is found on the skin of the horse, usually on the back and flanks. It is caused by a bacteria called Dermatophilus congolensis.
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