Feb2011 SOLVING THE SCALD
The aftermath of the last few weeks has left many of us with rain related troubles, and our hooved friends are no exception. Rain scald is a common problem during the rainy season so below are a few best practices to clear it up as quickly and simply as possible and aim to prevent it in the future.
A bit of background- Rain scald is caused by an organism called dermatophilus congolensis. It lives on the skin surface of the horse until rain damages the skins integrity causing it to become inflamed (normally due to continual heavy down pours) and the organism can then invade the skin. It normally appears on the back line and face which remain wet after a downpour. Raised bumps turn into scabby crusts and matted tufts of hair. The organism lives in the scabs so it is important to remove them and dispose of them and hair tufts to prevent re-infection or infection of other horses.
Treatment aims to remove all scabs, treat the skin then prevent re-infection. Using separate brushes and rugs for an affected horse is important and also disinfecting them after each use. The main treatment is to remove all scabs and use an antibacterial shampoo to remove the organism from the skin. We recommend Malaseb or a similar product. Iodine based washes are also affective but can be drying to the skin (and I have seen a couple of bad reactions recently!). Use this shampoo regularly to remove all infection. A coat conditioner may also be used after washing to help moisturise the already sore inflamed skin. Greasy heel cream or a similar compound applied to the worst affected areas is a really good way to prevent re-infection and help as a barrier to the wet weather as well as soothing the skin to help its natural barrier to re-instate.
As always, prevention is better than cure. It has been an extremely wet few weeks and hard to keep horses dry but if you have a waterproof rug placing it on before the rain whilst the horse is dry is important. Disinfect stable areas and remove any debris that may be infected, stable doors, fence posts where horses may rub are important to consider. Catching signs early will make treatment a lot easier. If you suspect rain scald, asking your vet for advice is important. Information sheets are available at the Old Mill Vet Surgery or Livestock Supplies as are the washes and lotions. Most cases respond well to the above treatment but some deeper infections may need prescription drugs and veterinary attention. Hopefully the wettest of the weather is behind us and we can enjoy our horses in some sunny weather.
Old Mill Vet Surgery
Treatment aims to remove all scabs, treat the skin then prevent re-infection. Using separate brushes and rugs for an affected horse is important and also disinfecting them after each use. The main treatment is to remove all scabs and use an antibacterial shampoo to remove the organism from the skin. We recommend Malaseb or a similar product. Iodine based washes are also affective but can be drying to the skin (and I have seen a couple of bad reactions recently!). Use this shampoo regularly to remove all infection. A coat conditioner may also be used after washing to help moisturise the already sore inflamed skin. Greasy heel cream or a similar compound applied to the worst affected areas is a really good way to prevent re-infection and help as a barrier to the wet weather as well as soothing the skin to help its natural barrier to re-instate.
As always, prevention is better than cure. It has been an extremely wet few weeks and hard to keep horses dry but if you have a waterproof rug placing it on before the rain whilst the horse is dry is important. Disinfect stable areas and remove any debris that may be infected, stable doors, fence posts where horses may rub are important to consider. Catching signs early will make treatment a lot easier. If you suspect rain scald, asking your vet for advice is important. Information sheets are available at the Old Mill Vet Surgery or Livestock Supplies as are the washes and lotions. Most cases respond well to the above treatment but some deeper infections may need prescription drugs and veterinary attention. Hopefully the wettest of the weather is behind us and we can enjoy our horses in some sunny weather.
Old Mill Vet Surgery
