Rainscold

[NoviceNic]

Should I be extra cautious with a pony that has had rainscold?? Is it similar to laminitis in the way that it will always re-appear unless managed??? How would you manage it? It was on the neck so I am making sure that all rugs have neck covers. I have Udder cream in my box of potions. This will act as a barrier and good for skin and hair regrowth. Thoughts and ideas appreciated. :)

[ImaLittleBoston]

You should give them anti-bacterial baths, I was told, But to towel dry them or blow dry :P They cant stay wet. I fould a shedding blade did well to pick of some loose scabs. If they scald is on the back, and sever, You probably would be wiser not to ride until they are over ( It can leave them sore, Experience with a new horse A longgg time ago). I use a natural healing aid on spots were they have no hair or alot of scabs. I dont know if you have any, but natures aid (If you have it) works very well. Be very catious with it, make sure theres NO chance of rain when you put them out ( once again, it can depend on the severity) .. I dont know if thats how anyone else goes about it, Buts its from a horsemens mouth and it worked for me :) ++ I dont know if you should use blankets, I think it needs air, We didnt blanket Ginger when she had it. It took about 4 weeks to go away fully.

[redcedar]

Rain scald is not quite the same as lammi, think of it more like mud fever in the health managment scale.

If the current rain scald has dried and is not weeping then its on its way to mending so clean the area and use udder cream/aloe/or another soothing cream LeoVets Boiskin oil is great.

Personally I'd take the precautions like a neck over on the rugs and not letting them be wet for long periods but with good stable managment you can cure a current case and prevent another with out too much stress! :)

[horsesports26]

My horse had really bad rain scald not long ago, which I have now successfully cleared up. I don’t feel you need to worry about it too much, my horse has never had this before until this year when we seemed to have had regular heavy down pours. I just try to rug him up when I know they have forecasted rain, but I have been caught out known again and it hasn’t come back.

Good luck
:p

[Mehitabel]

it is actually the same bacteria as mud fever - just a different name when it is on the body as opposed to the legs.
the bacteria lives in the soil, so if a horse has had it once, it is likely to come again as the bacteria is in the envoronment- it's nothing to do with the horse itself though. the bacteria gets into the pores when they open, which happens when the skin is warm and damp.

management - keep the skin dry if possible (although sweating on a warm day under a rug is just as likely to cause it as standing in the rain, annoyingly) and if it does appear, antibactieral washes and keeping the skin clean and dry until the scabs have entirely gone.

[Jessey]

Be sure not to over rug aswell, a sweaty pony can be just as likely to get rainscald (which is just a skin infection) as the damp enviroment under the rug can encourage it. Also don't rug after the get wet, even if you get caught out by a quick shower.
Scrub with Betadine or hibiscrub and dry thoroughly to clear the infection up.
Rainscald is mudfever just on the back rather than legs so any of the barrier creams used for mud fever would work.
My horse got rainscald last winter een with a rug and neck cover, poor lad had it all round his ears and forehead so still keep an eye in thoses sorts of places :D

[joey_olop]

My pone cant go out in the rain without being covered if its raining he gets it really bad every year. I found a shredding blade for the scabs works wonders but it isnt a very pleasant job Im afraid!! Best keep your horse covered as much as possible when its raining :)

[NoviceNic]

It was last year that she suffered. She had good care and it cleared well. I will keep watching her and rugs with necks. Thanks everyone very useful information given. :)