Wwyd (rain scald)

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Equi

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My little gelding had a bout of it at the start of autumn. It's so wet and mild here. He was clipped and it healed fast. He's now got a bit of coat again and again it's come back.

Would you clip a bit around the area and treat and lw rug (he's very fluffy and it will mean he has three different layers of hair lol) or whack it all off bar legs and rug as per conditions?

I was so hoping I would have a rug free winter but this boys been a pampered pony all his life so I was rugging last year as that's what he was used to but I really tried au natural this year.
 
Rain scald is bacterial and is the same bacteria as sweat scald. If he gets rain scald he needs to be kept dry so would need to be rugged when out. The danger is then that he may sweat if not clipped. I would therefor recommend clipping apart from legs and rugging to suit weather but make sure not to over rug. I have one of these!!
 
He's 6. It's so mild at the moment I think even a clip and a lw will be sufficient! Think I'll get the clippers out tomorrow and then get the detol out for my grooming kit 😓
 
Rainscald is caused by a *fungal* infection so that is what needs to be treated. Either use something like Canesten cream for athletes foot, or teatree spray, or ask your vet's advice.
 
I used a tea tree spray (I think it was made by Oz Oil or something like that) daily to keep it at bay. He would get it a lot from being warm under rugs if I wasn't careful.

Selsun shampoo from the chemists would clear the initial problem, and sometimes I used athletes foot powder but you need quite a lot so it got pricey.
 
Is he rugged or unrugged at moment?

I agree with you, it is very mild and very wet here atm. Bill lives out and has a 50g rug on - yesterday was fine but tonight when feeding him (6pm ish) he was a slightly sweaty. And he is unclipped but hasn't a winter coat yet.

Tbh with yours I'd probably clip all and then rug, you are in the mournes area? So probably more exposed as well!
 
Yeah not far off the mournes (see them from me window)

He's unrugged. Coat is so lovely and shiney lol will hurt to take it all off haha but needs must eh. I have been watching him very closely for it so I have caught it very early thankfully.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Rainscald is caused by a *fungal* infection so that is what needs to be treated. Either use something like Canesten cream for athletes foot, or teatree spray, or ask your vet's advice.
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No it's NOT fungal. The clinical name is actually dermatophilis and is bacterial. Inflamation of the hair follicle. As regards treatment you need to be very careful and never treat with any oily preps. Flamazine cream is recommended by vets followed by dilute hibiscrub to remove the 'paintbrush' type infected hair.
 
I'd vote for clipping and rugs equi... Poor pony. Weather is horrid at the moment :( My wee pony had it in july this year under his jaw poor wee chap..

Do tell me where you're from. I'm intrigued. We are really close to the mournes. .

Fiona
 
I had a horse prone to rain scald. As it happened, I worked in a veterinary laboratory at the time so had access to test facilities. I took a scrape and grew it in the lab incubator. It is dermatophilosis, which is a combination of fungal and bacterial infection. What you treat it with has to address both fungal and bacterial properties. Dermobion cream works. So does removing every single scab to get rid of the fungus and then treating with antibacterial solutions. It's labour intensive, but treating with just antibacterial or just anti fungal won't work.
 
You won't get rid of it for three years plus, you need to clip and scrub with hexovil and pevedine shampoo regularly to prevent a reoccurrence, even if he has no symptoms, until the skin has shed sufficiently to get rid of it.
 
Fiona said:
I'd vote for clipping and rugs equi... Poor pony. Weather is horrid at the moment :( My wee pony had it in july this year under his jaw poor wee chap..

Do tell me where you're from. I'm intrigued. We are really close to the mournes. .

Fiona
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Near to downpatrick.

3 years! My my. Never knew that. Will be clipping ASAP
 
I lived in comber before we moved down here, and it was/is so horsy I think that spoiled us lol...

Theres lots to do, but nothing closer than 40 min now mossvale indoor has closed..

Fiona
 
It's to do with the structure of the skin - and that's only if you keep it at bay for 3 years.

Once I found this out I got rid of it for good from my rescue horse no problem. She's 20 now and not had a reoccurrence since she was about 6.

If their skin gets that greasy winter way it will start up again just make sure you bath about once a month (you don't rinse the stuff off that I mentioned) so the skin is clean and clipping will make it all easier.
 
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