Rain Scald Treatment-Also in Vets

[dianchi]

So have got a TB who has come to me with awful rain scald, I have clipped him out and washed him with hibiscrub. But it just seems to be getting worse and worse!
I've come across a listerine/water spray recipe, but it's a pretty serious and wondered if anyone else has a wonder treatment I can try?

Any help so appreciated to fix this poor boy!

 

[Goldenstar]

Course of oral antibiotics .

 

[dianchi]

Thanks is on antibiotics was looking for a topical treatment to complement

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

Tea tree shampoo. We got this from the vet, I think. Put it on concentrated and left it for five mins then washed off with warm water

 

[Goldenstar]

I find using any thing too claggy makes it worse sometimes .
I have had a great result with aloe Vera spray.
I also like to wash with Malaseb shampoo which is kinder than hibiscrub to skin that under stress.

 

[olop]

Tea tree oil to dry the wounds is brilliant for rain scald, my boy used to suffer terribly with it every time it rained but now his skin is fine

 

[Goldenstar]

Spray with Hypocare I had some really good results with this on several different things , including a nasty skin infection in an elbow.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

tea tree, no rug till totally dry - and I mean dry with no scabs to incubate anything.

Had 1 come to my yard in December 2012 with galloping scald all along his back and down sides of saddle area last winter & the neighbours thought I was bonkers leaving him without a rug except when it was really chucking it down, cleared up within 3 or 4 weeks.

Luckily we had snow rather than rain, so this all helped the healing quickly, tho the bu88er did get through some hay in that time!

 

[maccachic]

Address deficiency in the diet once these are sorted it doesn't come back.

 

[lhotse]

Aloe vera gel is excellent for clearing skin conditions, it was the only thing that cleared my old mare's rain scald (caused by a low immune system in the springtime) and that was after using all manner of shampoos and a course of antibiotics, which gave her enteric toxemia and nearly killed her. I applied the gel twice a day and the tiny scabs were gone within 10 days and didn't return.

 

[dianchi]

I think I will struggle with no rug as I have fully clipped him out as he was itching so badly.

The area is so large now that I don't think a cream or gel will work (it literally is his whole body)

Maccachic- now that he is with me he is on adlib hay and balanced feeds so im hoping that will support him from the inside.

I think I will have to go down the spray route.

What is actually in hypocare? I cant seem to find anything on it?
Whilst I love aloe vera I think I need something to tackle the bacteria first and then will use this to support recovery of the hair!

 

[lizness]

Are you sure it is rainscald? Not some kind of allergy or something

 

[dianchi]

Yes, vets been out and given antibiotics said just to bath in hibiscrub but its pretty cold to keep doing that!

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

Yes, vets been out and given antibiotics said just to bath in hibiscrub but its pretty cold to keep doing that!

I am not convinced about using hibiscrub as it is not a shampoo, which I would prefer to use myself, you need to use a few kettles of water to have a warm solution, and dry off with rubber scraper and/towels[!]. A watering can is good for rinsing off.
Then put on a sweat rug and another rug on top, walk for 10 mins and horse will be dry.
Change rugs.

 

[dianchi]

Thanks I am aware of how to bath a horse in warm water, however I work till 5pm and I think its too cold at 6pm to bath him.

Hence looking for a spray option

 

[EventingMum]

I would try Hypocare spray. I was amazed at how well it tackled mud fever of two of mine who are prone to it. I know a lot of people argue there is no scientific evidence behind it but for me the proof was that it did work in reality. For mud fever I just soaked the scabby areas with it each day and after a few days they just came away leaving normal looking skin underneath, not inflammed red skin like you get if you remove scabs with shampoo etc. It's not too expensive and so has got to be worth trying.

 

[twiggy2]

has it got worse since the vet saw the horse despite following advice and giving antibiotics?

 

[WelshD]

Not quite the same but I like this stuff for my itchy pony, its non rinse so you could possibly make it up as a spray? http://www.horsehealth.co.uk/grooming/wash-box/body-washes/medivet-equine-wash

Failing that Hypocare or Vetericyn are both good for general treatment

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

Well I used to work at a racing yard, the horses were trace clipped and that is how they were cleaned for racing the next day, all weathers, [they were on daily turnout], it seems pretty tough, but we had it all down to a 5 minute job, and they never caught a chill.

 

[Tedley]

Another vote for malaseb shampoo, worked wonders on a rescued tb mare I rehabilitated. Used it once a week, works best is lathered on and left to work for 10 mins then rinsed off.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Well I used to work at a racing yard, the horses were trace clipped and that is how they were cleaned for racing the next day, all weathers, [they were on daily turnout], it seems pretty tough, but we had it all down to a 5 minute job, and they never caught a chill.

I used to bath hunters this way, twice a week through winter. Like you, I found it never did them any harm.

OP have you tried iodine spray?

 

[fburton]

Another vote for tea tree oil on dry - applied just to the rainscald scabs will soak in and kill bacteria and soften scab enough to remove painlessly. It's important for the scabs to go because they provide safe harbour for the bacteria and a source of reinfection. If the infection is so bad the scabs have coalesced into larger areas, I would be looking for vet input and possible antibiotic therapy.

 

[sem9999]

All good advice above -Tea tree oil is a good antibacterial, and Aloe vera very soothing for the skin, these two are probably the best natural solution. Would very much avoid using Hibiscrub, as although it is very good at killing all the nasty stuff, it kills all the natural body defence stuff with it and it stings a lot. Personally I would use the Hypocare\Leucillin\Vetericyn products (different brands but essentially all the same thing), and an aloe type gel once you can see it healing. For straight washing Cleanround shampoo is great (also for mud fever).