Rainscald

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gabbypinkjessica

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Recently bought youngster has rainscald over her saddle area. I have been doing hibiscrub washes, but not sure whether to put cream on after (will I just make it wetter?) or to clip the hair off and rug (will that just incubate it?). I'm trying to treat it like mud fever, so drying her fully and keeping out of worst of weather, picking off scabs and washing, but I use the pig oil and sulphur method for legs (thanks to HHO recommendation), but should I be putting oil on her back bearing in mind it gets really sunny here when not raining, and don't want to fry her!!! I'm sort of stuck now - the scabs are softening and coming off, but how do I actually get rid of it? Or should I sit tight for a bit til warmer weather, so she sheds hair naturally and better weather helps? Or will it never go away unless I treat it? Sorry to sound so stupid, but I can't find any information about it.
 
Something like sudacrem might help sooth it, or aloe vera gel. just to sooth the area, and help healing, not saying its a miracle cure, but we have it on a horse at our yard and his is healing over nicely!
 
My horse had rainscald on her shoulder last spring due to a suppressed immune system. Hibiscrub made it worse, a course of antibiotics cured it for a week and so I elected to try the natural way!! Aloe vera gel cured it in 4 weeks. I think her immune system finally kicked it in the head as well.
 
I found this on another site, it could be of help.

"Tip of the week! I found, on a Veterinary website, a useful preparation for treatment/prevention. Despite being clipped and well rugged, my horse suffered after frequent washing, to cool down, at competition rides then being heavily rugged, as he feels the cold post-ride! This created ideal conditions for the bacteria to multiply causing painful lumps to appear over his back and belly. These then formed small scabs which when picked off were oozy underneath leaving a mini hole in the skin. I had been washing with hibiscrub for a few days, some would improve but then others developed in another patch. I then read about the use of 50/50 mix of baby oil/vinegar. Two days of twice daily applications has done the trick. All lumps have gone and all scabs cleared up. Others might find this useful to try."
 
When I first bought Sunny, he had not been cared for properly and he had rainscald under his saddle area. He used to be a riding school ned and he gave customers wonderful safe rides and earned a lot for the riding school but clearly no-one could be arsed to clean his sweaty back. Poor lad.

I cleared it up in under 2 weeks. You have to pick loose scabs off, as you say, coz the bacteria lurks under them. Then Hibiscrub worked well in with a soft brush, then rinse and towel dry. A sheepskin numnah, washed well after every use will help the recovery. I was also advised by my vet that it is fine to make up a small solution of dilute Hibiscrub with warm water, just an inch in the bottom of the bucket, and rub that well in and LEAVE IT. It will dry under a scrupulously clean rug and should heal fast. Sunny has never had rainscald uner his saddle again.
 
I'm dealing with this at the moment. My horse got it last summer when she was living out 24/7. Over the winter it has obviously festered silently under her rug, and when I was grazing her in hand a few weeks ago I found the hair coming out in clumps
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I have pulled/groomed out the loose hair and bathed in Malaseb shampoo, and I'm now treating it with Aloe Vera gel which I have had very good results from in the past. One patch looks as if it has cleared up, the other where there is less hair doesn't look scurfy any more and I'm confident the hair will soon grow back.
 
i have a mare with rain scald wash morning and night with hibi scrub for 3 to 4 days then just apply tea tree cream coz this is anti fungal so will clear it up!
 
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