RAINSCALD - ANY SUGGESTIONS???

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Faberge

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So we have youngsters that live out in Devon 24/7 with no rugs as there is no one on site to keep an eye on them. They are checked every day by an elderly neighbour. We have been doing this for years with no real problems but this year one of the yearling fillies has got a really nasty case of rainscald. She has rubbed the hair off the top of her rump and I'm worried she'll rub more off and if she does she'll freeze, plus there's the risk of secondary infection. They have plenty of natural shelter round their enormous field but they never stand under it.
As we are not on site all the time we can't bring her in so does anyone know of any treatments that could be applied in the field or have any other solutions?
Thanks
 
Yes we have considered that but firstly she was still too wet when we left at dawn this morning so it would have made it worse. Also, we are paranoid that she/others would get caught in it so would like to avoid at all costs if possible, hence this post.
 
you be lucky to sort it out if she can not be kept dry. Getting repeatedly wet and then dry is a factor in rainscald..

Even putting a rug on wet will cause less damage that letting her get wet and then dry and wet again will do..

It will be very dificult to solve unless she is kept outta the elements.

Lou x
 
If she has scabs and is sore then you have no option but to bring her indoors until it is sorted TBH. If you rug her with infection there it will just make it worse, if you just leave it then it will never get any batter and you could end up with scarring as well as a sore backed filly that may be hard to break/sell in the long term.

I would bring her indoors, get some antibiotics to clear it up quickly and treat the same as mud fever ie soften the scabs with Dermisol/Sudocrem, clean with Hibiscrub and apply something like Flamazine from the Vets.

Once you've got rid of it if you can't put a rug on apply Keratex powder regularly when her coat is dry. She should build some immunity to it with time but for now needs a bit of help.
 
i have found this is very effective but expensive. Its the only stuff I've found which doesn't require you to bring them in and wash etc as it is very waterproof. You do need to slap it on very thick especially if you can't do it everyday.
 
God, how rude are some people!!!

I have a little welshie that gets rainscald in a certain field.. she doesn't get it in my other one, so I guess its something in the soil.
Anyway, I don't rug her either...never have. The last time she had it I picked off the scabs that would come off and smothered her in NAF mud fever cream and it cleared it up beautifully.
I've also heard good things about this stuff but have never used it yet...
http://www.shapleys.com/testimonials.aspx


For what its worth..I totally understand your predicament
 
i think you have to bring her into a stable somehow for a few weeks for it to dry out and heal, it just won't if she is still out in the elements.
i would not keep horses where i could not check them (or have them checked) at least twice a day, sorry.
if the fencing is good, i would rug her up in a make such as Fal which never rubs, is self-righting, and has no leg straps for her to perhaps get caught in. my horses are out in them 24/7 all winter and i've never had a problem.
 
I do wish people wouldn't be so judgemental, the poster who replied for "f's sake " isn't exactly being helpful are they?
Provided you have emergency back up in place locally and they are regularly checked, they should cope fine.
The climate here in Devon is perfect for rainscald, and we get some with it every year.
You need to be down there for a weekend to treat it though, and my method is to use an old rug which can be power washed or thrown out afterwards.
Cover the rainscald with a thick layer of cream, I used fungatrol I think or any fungal type cream will work. (it's made by Equine America anyway).
Put the rug on and leave for at least 24 hours, preferably longer and when you remove the rug the scabs come with it. (that's why the rug is not usable afterwards) I then bath carefully in anti fungal wash, rinse and dry with old towels. I apply athlete's foot cream and powder in the hope some of it stays on!
(I also add a thin rug but if you can't, you can't)
This has worked on all of mine with it over several winters, it's the luck of the draw really. some never get it, others seem to have warm damp wide backs and they allow water to gather there and the funal infection to thrive.
If you can't sort it you will need to see your vet for antibiotics, but alternative though the above method is, it should work.
 
Next time you're up there take some tubs of zinc and castor oil cream (nappy cream to you!) or Sudacream and plaster her with that; also plaster the others it will give them a bit of protection too. Plaster her back every day for a week but don't rub it in. The hair she still has will be matted and scabby underneath which will peel off eventually on its own but this will give her some better protection than nothing at all if rugs aren't an option.
Don't worry, she won't wither away, how do you think wild ponies cope without treatment for it at all; it will get better but it will take time. The worst thing you could do is put a rug on her when she's already wet and I understand your fears with her being a youngster.
If you can make sure she has a good diet with essential vitamins and minerals, that will go a long way to making sure her system can cope with this setback; if they're healthy on the inside, they'll be healthy on the outside. For this, something like Suregrow would be very good or a decent stud/yearling feed .
 
I may have been harsh but I am interested in the horses welfare at the end of the day , my apologies if I have offended anyone but the horse obviously needs treatment and if the owner cannot be there then put the horse in livery for a couple of weeks to get it sorted out
 
i'm having a rare thrill from using aqueous cream on my horses mud fever (caused by the same bacteria)

i just plaster his leg with it every day (£1 per big pot) and it's working a treat-just applying it over the old stuff, not washing off every day.

better than sudocrem, protocon, iodine (i've tried tons of things)

it's not often you find a cheap easy solution to stubborn problems, if i had a case of rain scald i'd try it on that for sure
smile.gif
 
rainscale and mud fever are caused by the same bacteria.

The best treatment is keeping the horse dry after washing with Hibiscrub, removing as many scabs as possible and perhaps an antibiotic cream from the vet and rugging up when the horse is dry.

Keeping the horse dry is the best cure and best prevention. Would it be possible to contain the horse in a field shelter until it has cleared up?
 
My TB Gelding is prone to rainscald (he gets it in some really weird places too LOL this year both his ears were effected LOL)

If its very bad it may be worth clipping the area to treat the skin. One product i have found and can strongly recommend is the Mud Fever Spray by MABS (google it) its not too pricey and lasts quite a long time.

If you cant clip just make sure you really massage the area with the Spray and see how she goes.

I know rugging a wet horse will do her no good so all you can do is wait until she is dry and pop a rug on until shes better.

Also never pick the scabs off!! this makes the area very sore and tender, once you start treating the scabs will work their way off and will not be as sore.
 
you need to ask your vet but they will recommend taking the scabs off when they are willing to as you can then clean the white pus from undeneath them and enable the area to heal
 
Thanks for all your help and suggestions everyone (and no thanks for the negative comments - we are more than capable of looking after horses and of course have a back up plan in place which we will implement if we cannot sort the problem out - but wanted to ask first if anyone had any tried and tested solutions - thought that is one of the reasons the forum was created?!). Suggestions and support much apreciated from everyone else who has taken the time to reply.

Incidentally I posted this on behalf of someone else who keeps their horses with mine, so I don't feel I should be in line for any flack anyone cares to dish out. Someone saying "for fs sake if you cannot look after her properly then pay someone that can" is not helpful and if anyone else feels the need to contribute in a similar fashion, then don't.
 
when i brought my mare she has very nasty scars on her back from rainscald which i can only imagine was from leaving it untreated. if you are worried about i would bring her in for a week or 2 and treat it, if it is sevre i would get the vet come and check her over.
 
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