Do you think this is rain scald? And should I clip him?

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billylula

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Pony usually a lightweight turnout on but I took it off last week as he was a bit podgy and sweaty. Brought him up to wash and clip today and have found a large patch of scab (touch your thumb and index finger together - its that size. Tehre are a few other small bite size lumps around it of the same scabby stuff.

Not sure what to do. Instinct says to clip him, clean with disinfectant and put sudocrem on, then rug him.

Or should I not clip him and just try and get as much sudocreme on as possilbe? Or should I call the vet?

Can he be ridden? They are just to the right of the girth area (near side).

Thanks.
 
It could be rain scald from your description and if it is you want to gently remove the scabs. Brushing hair in the wrong direction will let the air at it, this kills the organisms. I wouldn't put a rug on as it's a perfect environment for dermatophilis (sp) to thrive in. I definitely wouldn't be putting an air barrier on top however you could clean with a weak iodine solution. Try to keep the area as dry as possible though, which may be tough if you're having rainy weather over there.
 
It does not sound as if it is in the right area for raincald, that usually first shows along the top of the back or any exposed areas, by the girth it could just be a bite that has been irritated or rubbed, I would clean it so you can get a better look but it is likely to clear up without too much intervention, if not under the girth I would ride as usual but keep an eye on it in case it spreads. Clipping will make it easier to treat and monitor so if you were going to anyway I would go ahead.
 
I've cleaned it and dried it with a hairdryer :-) it's a large circle of pinkish flesh underneath, slightly proud. Going to clip the area and have some hypocare to put on
 
Keep an eye on it, if it spreads and more like it pop up it could be ringworm. Especially as you say its round and raised. Ringworm is fungal and can be caught by humans so wash your hands well too.
 
They may have been caused by him getting hot under a rug - my horse used to get them, bumps which turn into scabs and then bald spots - he gets v hot in rugs so I only lightly rug him now when the weather really turns, vet told me to just wash with hibiscrub n put sudocream on and if they look red and angry then antibiotics ...
 
Some forms of sarcoid can do this, looking like heat spots etc.
I'm not saying it is at all, but something to bear in mind as 1 of many different possible things they could be.

Best to keep an eye on it & the other localised patches & if any significant changes, then pop some photos over to your vet.
 
Rainscald is a skin infection and bacteria love moist, sweaty and warm skin. Rugs are a breeding ground for lots of lovely bugs.

Do whatever your vet has advised regarding the scabs/ lesions but let the air get to the skin.
 
frank has always acquired random scabby bits similar to what you describe - tend to occur when skin gets irritated (heat bump/fly bite/sweat/bit too warm etc)... it isn't proper rain scald but a small area of low grade bacterial infection.

What works for him is clipping if viable, washing more than I would with another horse after sweating (see point 1) fly rugs in summer and sudocreme with added sulphur powder for treatment (couple of applications and it resolves.)
 
It's looking much less infected, still a bit scabby but very dry. I think it may have been a fly bite that he's snapped at. The hypocare seems to be working. It's good stuff.
 
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