Reluctant Scabs/rainscald

[GreatDane]

Just wondered if any of you have a top tip for getting large areas of scabs off.

My new boy has come to me with quite bad rainscald had it for about a week prior to me getting him. Vet has put him on antibiotics for a week, I have also been advised to wash area daily then apply ointment - however two of the scabby areas are quite large and the scabs are matted together so its difficult to pick off !!!

Any advise on getting these scabs of so the ointment can get on and do its job would be gratefully recieved ......... Thanks

 

[Paint it Lucky]

I usually treat rainscald by washing with hibiscrub, then leaving this on for about five minutes to soak in (which will soften the scabs) then wshing it off thoroughly. The bigger scabs may not all come off in one go after the first wash but if you do this for a few days it should get rid of all of them.

 

[kellyeaton]

wash with tea tree cream soften the scabs than get a product from nettex with is made for this job it is called de-scab after that put sudacream on it and do this twicw daily until clear and try to keep affect ares clean!

 

[Maesfen]

To avoid making the horse sore and to soften the scabs sufficiently that they will fall off, not have to be pulled off, smear generously with something like Protocon, zinc and castor oil cream (nappy rash cream) or Sudacrem, then be patient and leave a day before repeating. As you smear more on, some that are ready will fall off so you just keep repeating until they are gone, might take a fortnight for stubborn ones. Keep the horse dry, lightly rug if it has to go out. Do not wash at all, you are only weakening the skin to enable more bacteria to breed and the ABs the vet gave should have kicked in by now.
Also look to the diet, that is where a lot of skin problems like rainscald and mud fever start, not just the standing around in wet and muddy conditions; skin can't fight problems if it's not fed properly to start with.

 

[billyslad]

Hibi scrub before and after will help and dont panic they do heal

 

[GreatDane]

Thanks everyone

MFH will try your method as I have plenty of nappy rash cream to hand and nowhere near us is open on sundays.

This is second day of antibiotics, so hopefully they will start working on the inside. He has been out since yesterday on good grass with my daughters pony and I bring him in overnight or if it looks like it might rain.

He also has a little mud fever starting on one of his pastures am treating the same way and assuming AB will help that too - poor chap.

Thanks again - I'll wait to see how loose they are tomorrow.