rainscald

[fine_and_dandy]

Just being curious really, I have seen on this forum a lot of people talking about rainscald (especially when there are cases of neglect it seems) and I would like to know more about it - what are the symptoms, what does it look like, how is it caused etc and how can it be treated?

Please don't jump on me for not knowing, I feel a bit of a tool for not knowing about it anyway!

Thanks

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Rain scald is a bacterial skin infection, it is more common in neglect cases as their immune system will be lower and the general management/hygiene will means it will be allowed to fester.

Look here for more information.

 

[elsielouise]

Buuuuuut.. non neglected horses can get a similiar mild set of symptoms presenting as small (very) scabs under the hair. Also similiar to mud fever type scabs but on their back.

They can get it even if checked twice daily and rugged up. My vet said he's seen more than a normal amount of cases this year. Though to be fair he didn't call what my mare had rain scald. As he said, to diagnose accurately you need to do skin scrapes and lab tests and most people don't bother since treantment says, clean, keep dry and clean add some topical anti-fungal/viral whatever stuff.

The extreme cases maybe start as small scabs and they are the neglect ones.

My mare's seems to have gone. I am seveal hundred quid worse off. She isn't neglected.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

I didn't say they couldn't, just more common and normally more severe in neglect cases, due to their lowered immune system.

 

[elsielouise]

Wasn't a comment about your post. Just a note that it can begin without neglect. Extreme cases; yes, neglect makes it extreme. The condition per se, not.

 

[fine_and_dandy]

thanks. i wasn't making the assumption in my post that horses with rainscald are always obviously neglected, I was making an observation that when I have been on HHO and rainscald was mentioned, it was more often or not to do with a neglected horse.

thanks for the replies though! I hope your mare i ok and doesnt get it anymore elsielouise

 

[madmav]

My horse had it years ago,promise he wasn't neglected! Think when it's wet conditions it can flare up