Rain scald - can baby oil help?

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Po Knee

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Is it true that a line of baby oil along the spine can help prevent rain scald?

I have two natives living out and will not be rugging if I can help it, but obviously don't want them to suffer if this weather continues.

Also assume they need to be dry when the oil goes on - that could be a challenge in itself!

Many thanks all :)
 
Yes, I believe it can. You have to be careful in sunny weather though, especially with pink skinned horses, or you can end up in a worse mess with sunburn. Don't rub the oil in, you don't want to soften the skin, just add extra oil to the hair.

TBH a rug or decent shelter would be better if you're worried that they're going to be prone. Baby oil is ok for a quick fix on bad days.
 
Rainscald is a fungal infection so I would use teatree oil (in a base oil), there are lots of proprietary brands available. I really don't like baby oil as it is perfumed.
 
Have they had rainscald previously or are you just feeling bad they they are living out without rugs? Most natives, if left to their own devices, will produce enough grease in their coat to keep the skin dry. The only rainscald problems have been caused by an over fat pony having a gullet over his quarters which held water and one which, we didn't realise at the time, was developing Cushings.
An old farmer who bred heavy horses near us always used lard on his horses' backs in winter as extra waterproofing against rainscald.
 
My two young cobs were out all last winter without rugs. The can use shelter if they want. No problems with rain scald or mud. I leave mane long to protect neck and feathers on to protect heels.

They both have completely different coats, one the weather just seems to slide off, the other has a coat that seems to soak up wet. The wet hair seems to stick together into teardrop shapes, so I make sure each time he dries out that I rub through his coat and it fluff it up again!

Native types are bred to be hardy, so I monitor them carefully and leave them natural!
 
Gloi said:
The only rainscald problems have been caused by an over fat pony having a gullet over his quarters which held water and one which
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yes, thats the trouble I had with mine when I first got him and yes it helped. if you don't like the perfumed oil, I've hear you can use liquid parafin.Protocon or similar will also help but is messier. trouble with rugs is getting a thick coated pony dry enough to put one on-if you're having weather like we are up here, its easier said than done (and I hate rugging fully coated natives)
 
Rainscald is the dermatophilus bacteria, similar to the one in mud rash. Neem oil is antibacterial as well as forming a barrier for the moisture - and yes, make sure it is bone dry before you apply it though (or any oil) you don't want to trap the moisture underneath, warm and moist is when the bacteria thrives. If you haven't got the bacteria present though they won't get it - best is to wait and see.
 
Thank you all for taking the time to reply :)

They do have access to a field shelter so maybe I should just leave them to it. They are after all fully coated natives.....

My Connie had a touch of rain scald last year, but this was combined with her being overly chubby and having a bit of a gutter......this year should not be a problem thanks to a strict diet over the summer.

Cheers and a Merry Christmas to you all :)
 
Nope, baby oil will create a lovely barrier for the bacteria/spores to have a field day in !!! Contact the vet and get advice - Fuciderm is probably the best option. Combined with washing with hibiscrub. You need to shut the affected horse in the shelter, get the rug off, and TREAT it !
 
Shysmum said:
Nope, baby oil will create a lovely barrier for the bacteria/spores to have a field day in !!! Contact the vet and get advice - Fuciderm is probably the best option. Combined with washing with hibiscrub. You need to shut the affected horse in the shelter, get the rug off, and TREAT it !
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Thank you. No panic as I was thinking preventatively (is that a word??). Neither pony actually has rain scald at the moment, nor any sign of it. Just me thinking ahead just in case :)
 
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