Rainscald -treatment with no stable,running water & rain?..plus rug or not to rug?!

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aradiagreen

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Hi,

Oh what a winter! I posted on here before as I suspected my pony had rainscald but after lots of research and 2 vets it turned out to be seasonal alopecia. Now he really has rainscald! I shall back-track and tell you the whole story...are you sitting comfortably?!

Btw, I have read the other rainscald threads too!

My boy is rising 4yrs heavy weight cob 13.3hh. Even the vet said he had an incredibly fine but thick long hair. I've had him a year and when I got him his coat was an awful mess full of matts and dreadlocks (this time last year).

I keep him on our city common. It has trees and a 'Y' shaped wind shelter (that only a few use) but no overhead shelter, stable or running water apart from the trough. He's a good doer and would probably have been fine most of winter rugless. However I thought (trying to be clever!) that if I rugged him he wouldn't grow such a long coat as he wouldn't need to as he was wamr enough. I was wrong - his hair grew just as thick! He seemed fine until 2months ago or more when he got bare patches with no rubbing, oozing, itching - on his face, legs, sides. Finally decided it was seasonal alopecia from being too warm under rugs. Took rugs off (it was above freezing) and his fur has grown back. Great I thought!

However, after a week of heavy rain a few weeks later he now has rainscald across the back of his rump. It was warm so I thought he'd be ok rugless. His coat is very thick so I suppose it just stayed wet. (he's very well otherwise).

IF I had a stable I would bathe it with hibiscrub and keep him dry. And wash his rugs. BUT I don't have a stable or running water to bathe him. Rain is forecast - do I rug him and risk him sweating or leave it off? There seems to be totally differing opinions on this here.

Today is currently fine so I was going to take some dilute hibiscrub down to the field - bathe - remove scabs (there's alot) - pat dry & walk him in fleece cooler if ness so its totally dry - then vaseline - leave him....rugless??? He has a clean no fill turnout though it still makes him hot.

I don't have warm water/shelter there to bathe him if its cold and wet so I can only really bathe him when its dry weather. I can carry water over but not alot. All my books say he should be stabled til he;s better but I just don't have one. Its been raining alot recently with temps of 3-12 degrees C.

Am I doing this right? I don't have any horsey friends and although I've looked after a lot of horses I always had an owner with more experience to make the decisions. I feel like I've done everything wrong!

Next winter I shall give him a trace clip as he;ll be in light work and it'll avoid the nasty matts and won't sweat up when I'm riding. And rug.

I'm so tired of worrying about him. He;s on the other side of town and my car has died so I'm having lifts off friends. can't afford to get car fixed at moment. Did look at Bucas sunshower and smartex rugs though can't afford them at mminute.

Sorry its such a long one. Any advice VERY gratefully received.:)
 
Personally I would never use Hibiscrub on rainscald, it's too harsh!

I wouldn't wash it, just apply Neem oil to 'clean' it (antifungal) morning and night for a few days and once it has begun to heal use Camrosa to protect from the elements.

Our ISH had rain scald on his face and behind his ears last year and this worked a treat!!
 
diamondrockharvey said:
Personally I would never use Hibiscrub on rainscald, it's too harsh!

I wouldn't wash it, just apply Neem oil to 'clean' it (antifungal) morning and night for a few days and once it has begun to heal use Camrosa to protect from the elements.

Our ISH had rain scald on his face and behind his ears last year and this worked a treat!!
Click to expand...

i can confirm that neem oil works well on rain scald too.
 
Hello :), my pony got rain scald once, we bought this product called Camrosa, it's like a thick cream.. worked a treat, cleared up in a jiffy!

It's expensive but you can use it on most things, and it's really good stuff, well worth the money!

http://www.camrosa.co.uk/

Sorry if i've broken any rules by posting the link.. :)
 
I actually had the vet out for my pony yesterday as he too has rain scald and I was not 100% sure what the best way to treat it was as I have not experienced this situation before.

I spotted it quite early thankfully so he does not have any pus yet. You do need to treat it otherwise it can spread all over their body. My vet clipped the area that was affected as if your horse has a thick coat this makes it easier to treat and to get the scabs off. From my vet I got this shampoo

http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/Vet-Solutions-Universal-Medicated-Shampoo-473ml/productinfo/VETSOLMED/

and some cream that the vet made which is non branded.

I have to wash the areas affected once a day with the shampoo and then put on the cream and he wears his LW turnout. Prior to being infected he was not wearing his turnout as I thought he did not need it as it was wet but not cold and he was only chaser clipped and it has mostly grown back. My pony lives out and although I have access to a stable vet said he could continue to be out as long as he is rugged, the rug that I have is the rambo wug and it is breathable.

Apparently quite a lot of horses have got it this year even some that are rugged due to this damp weather softening the skin opening the pores and making it easier for the bacteria to take hold and as the horses do not dry out but with a thick coat remain quite warm the bacteria thrives in warm damp conditions. My vet says they also need to get a lesion or scratch for the bateria to get in in the first place. It is the same thing as causes mud fever.
 
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