Rain Rot

[Tisbouncy]

What exactly is 'Rain Rot'?  Is it a fungus caused by the rain? Is it a parasite?  And why do some horse get and others don't when all are in the same living environment and open to the elements? 

These are not my horses...but some that I want to help.  They have plenty of trees for shelter (there is no 'man-made' shelter), but prefer to stand out in the open rain or shine.  They are well fed and watered and get plenty of love!  Their only problem is their coats.  I know about MTG, and was advised against it as the horse are out in the sun...So all positive input/advise on this subject will be greatly appreciated.

[Ingrid Taskin]

If you seach on the site, you will find another post on rain rot.. it's a bacterial infection... there is a special shampoo that will help with it.. I think if it gets really bad, then you even give anti biotics.. certainly need to disinfect every brush you use on a horse with rain rot and clean up any of the hair, wash hands.. kind of a thing.... I don't have any knowledge on why some horses get it and others don't.. really I think it's LOG.. lack of grooming...   If you keep the coat clean, the dirt can't build up and the bacterial infection can't take place.... not a vet.. but I vaguely remember this type of dialogue on WEF before...

I have always been told that chestnuts have the worst coat for getting skin problems.. not sure if that's true or not... just like white/gray horses are more prone to skin cancers........ again.. I have nothing on hand that verifies this scientifically.

Ingrid

[Tisbouncy]

Thanks Ingrid!  The horse that has it the worse does happen to be a chestnut...I don't think it's LOG as she is groomed twice a day and get a weekly bath...maybe as you say, the brushes, combs..etc need to be disinfected after every grooming session.

[Delia]

Whoever bathes the horses might want to try using a diluted vinegar and water sponge rinse at the end.  Do not rinse again with clear water. This helps with ph balance for the skin, and it's also a disinfectant.  I personally have never had it burn the skin but a weaker solution in the beginning isn't a bad idea, with a little more vinegar as time goes on.  When I had a chestnut in my care, it took a very long time to clear up all the problems, particularly the face mask area.   
Usually I put about 1/2" vinegar in the bottom of 5 gal bucket & fill with water not quite to the 4 gal  line.  The vinegar & water won't hurt the horses, and the price is right as compared to other OTC  horse products.
Good luck with the horses!

[Ingrid Taskin]

I found the post...
There is a great article in Horse and Rider (March issue) on Rain rot.. just wanted to recap....

.... horse will have scurfy, bumpy patches or scabs on neck, withers, shoulders, back and on loin and croup.. won't be particularly itchy, but they may be painful. haircoat will be dull and lifeless, and the hair may be tufted over the bumps...it's an extremely common skin condition, especially in wet, humid climates.. caused by BACTERIUM (DERMATOPHILUS CONGOLENSIS).. some of the characteristic of a fungus, but NOT a fungus... gains access to your horse's skin when the skin is frequently wet, as in rainy or humid weather, or sometimes in hot, dry weather when the horse is ridden and then rinsed off every day (don't we have BOTH of these down here?) .. the moisture disrupts the oils that normally protect the skin, allowing the condition to get started.. biting insects can help it along.. TBs with their thinner skin and haircoats, seem to be especially prone to it.

Rx: Use a shampoo that kills the organism, soak 10 minutes before rinsing well.. antibacterial shampoo containing chlorhexidine or iodine works well, but better is a good tar and sulphur shampoo by the name of Equitar, mixed with a little of Nolvasan.. say one or two ounces to a 16 oz bottle of shampoo.. cleans and medicates.. scabs must be softened and removed.. dermatophilus lives and spreads UNDERNEATH the scabs.. (collect and dispose of scabs to avoid spreading the bacteria around!) (interesting!)

.. in severe infections where it has reached deeper levels of tissue, vet may need to administer a systemic antibiotic...

.. repeat once a day for a week.. dry area well afterword.. Dermacloth containing Microban works.. don't have to wet the area as often.. scabs MUST be removed to get underneath, no matter what...

Dos/Dont's: keep equipment from rubbing on area while it is healing... no gooey ointments (promotes spread of bacteria).. after horse is recovered, clean and disinfect your grooming tools and blankets to help prevent reinfection... (a little bleach or Nolvasan to a tub of water and soak items overnight)...

So there you go, since we live in South Florida... hopefully this information will help out a number of people.

Ingrid

[Tisbouncy]

WOW, thanks so much again Ingrid...I have just printed what you posted and will pass this info onto the family.  I will also mention the vinigar solution as well. 

[saddlediva]

Also, try adding a little gold Listerine to the rinse water (it has to be the gold). It has some thymol and other good stuff. For the brushes, add a little bleach to a bucket of water, soak, air dry. Do not use those brushes on any other horses, keep them dedicated to the horse in question. This year seems to be the worst in recent history for rain rot, my chestnut has developed it on the neck under the mane. However, he was sticking his head into the wet trees around the paddock and was asking for it! Fungasol and diluted Listerine sprays for him.

[Texas]

Here's my successful formula. 

Wrap horse's area in plastic bag after applying globs of petroleum jelly for a day or two to get the scabs off - then buy FLowers of Sulphur, mix in bowl with neosporin, petrolem jelly as a carrier base and an anti-itch cream - mix well and apply thick to the base sores (not with scabs) and leave on - it will disappear within 2 days.