help regarding rain rot/scald.

[ellieplatt]

Hello there,

I have a TB - whose in great condition, mostly lives in and is clean, rugged, clipped, life of luxery ect! But i am worried he may possibly of rain rot?

Recently when grooming his legs off clumps of hair have been coming off, with what looks like sticky dirt, right to the skin, but the skin is not broken, sore, red or oozing. He is not in pain with it either. I have hibi scrubbed them, and got the dead hair and skin off as much as possible, but it hasnt seemed to have gone away.
In the past ive had the same problem with his ears, but i put it down to not spunging off if hes sweated up.
I did wonder if it could of been a build up of dry skin? As his coat has suddenly got quite dry, he is fully clipped through the winter, and wasnt like this then.

I've never had a horse with this problem, so any advice would be great!

Thank you!

 

[tallyho!]

If it's not infected, not red or swollen and you don't feel the need for the vet, then wouldn't worry about it until the horse has finished changing it's coat.

Honestly, the amount of "skin/scurf/scabby" posts this time of year common and people tend to think that the horse has mange when all that is probably happening is a normal moult... just late in the season. A lot of horses held on to coat this year. It's still cold now and it's nearly MAY!!!

Rugging actually does dry out the skin contrary to popular belief. Skin needs moisture from the air too to be healthy. You can feed oil rich foods all you like but nothing like fresh air to keep skin healthy and help it breathe and be exposed to sunlight. Most rugged horses end up scurfy come the spring. Just think, all that dried skin, then a moult, lots of loose dead skin cells. Brushing sometimes makes it worse.

 

[ellieplatt]

If it's not infected, not red or swollen and you don't feel the need for the vet, then wouldn't worry about it until the horse has finished changing it's coat.

Honestly, the amount of "skin/scurf/scabby" posts this time of year common and people tend to think that the horse has mange when all that is probably happening is a normal moult... just late in the season. A lot of horses held on to coat this year. It's still cold now and it's nearly MAY!!!

thank you, what do you suggest if it persists or spreads? (it hasnt spread over the past week or two, just isnt going away!)

 

[tallyho!]

thank you, what do you suggest if it persists or spreads? (it hasnt spread over the past week or two, just isnt going away!)

You should call the vet if you are worried. Don't try any more detergents like hibiscrub because it's a very drying substance. Moisturise with some calendula cream or tea tree oil to kill off any bacteria if there is any. Try some aloe vera lotion. But seriously, if you are worried, don't take advice from a forum, someone who can't even see whats going on and making guesses... get the vet