How Do Horses Get Rain Rot?

Rain rot most often occurs when the skin has been compromised in some way. Compromise occurs during times of high humidity, prolonged rainfall, or increased exposure to biting insects. Horse owners should take steps to limit impact when these environmental conditions are present.

Does rain rot in horses go away on its own?

A: True – If the causative agent of rain rot in the horse’s environment is removed, the rain rot scabs will slowly disappear; however, the red, raw and itchy skin left behind makes the horse prone to secondary infection with Staphylococcal folliculitis, a much more serious skin condition.

Is rain rot on horses contagious?

Rain rot is contagious, generally transmitted by shared horse tack (such as blankets or brushes) or mutual rubbing posts such as a fence. The lesions do not cause pain to the horses unless left untreated and a secondary skin infection results.

How long does it take to get rid of rain rot on a horse?

Most affected animals recover spontaneously within 3 weeks of the initial infection (provided chronic maceration of the skin does not occur). In general, the onset of dry weather speeds healing.

How do you treat rain rot on horses naturally?

We’ve found the most effective way is a cheap and common ingredient you can pick up from your local store – coconut oil. Best applied by hand (use gloves if you wish), rub generous amounts into and around the horses infected areas in a circular motion and watch the magic happen.

Is rain rot painful to horses?

Unlike many other skin conditions, areas with rain rot do not typically itch but can be painful and cause your horse to become sensitive to touch. All horses can be affected by this condition; however, there have been identified links with horse’s coat colors and immune status leading to a higher incidence of rain rot.

How do you prevent rain rot?

Rain rot is easily preventable and can be stopped by addressing any cuts or minor abrasions with a trusted antimicrobial spray or wound liquid. Your horse’s skin is the first line of defense in preventing rain rot. Make sure you are doing what is necessary to protect your horse’s skin and coat!

Should I blanket a horse with rain rot?

If your horse has been standing in the rain for two days, make sure you check him for rain rot and get the mud off his legs.” During the cold months, remove blankets every few days at least to check over a horse’s body and skin condition, Max advises. If possible, leave blankets off for a while so the skin can breathe.

How do you fix rain rot on a horse?

How is Rain Scald treated? Affected areas should be gently washed with a mild disinfectant shampoo or solution e.g., chlorhexidine or povidone iodine and as many of the scabs as possible removed without causing excessive discomfort to the horse.

Is Listerine good for rain rot on horses?

Listerine has also been said to have a positive effect on rain rot. It can be treated like a fungus, thus, many disinfectant will do the job. Ensure the area is dry once treatment is applied as well. There are also times when it goes away on its own.

Is rain rot the same as scratches?

Scratches and rain rot are the same thing?!
Yup! Caused by the very same bacteria, the common names for the ailments really only pertain to the area of the body affected. Rain rot, or rain scald, tends to be on the rump and back, whereas scratches tends to be found on the heels and pasterns.

Does apple cider vinegar help rain rot in horses?

Be sure to dilute the apple cider vinegar before using it as treatment. For thrush, an abscess, or rain rot, prepare a 50-50 dilution in a basin or a bucket and soak each affected hoof for about 15 minutes.

Can horses get rain rot in winter?

Many horses get rain rot in the winter, and just as many get rain rot in the summer. The offending bacteria loves a humid environment – which in the summer is the weather, or frequent bathing. In winter, horses that sweat in their fuzzy coats create the perfect situation for rain rot, as does the horse in a blanket.

Are horses OK in heavy rain?

Some horses are more susceptible to the health problems that rain can cause, while others might be comfortable in it and prefer staying out as opposed to being placed in a stall. In severe weather conditions when hail and flying debris are present, horses should be provided with adequate shelter.

Should you scrape water off a horse?

Scraping water off your horse will not help to cool him down. This is because evaporation is much slower at removing heat compared to conduction — so when the water is scraped off, there is less capacity for conductive heat transfer to take place.

Should you rug a horse with rain scald?

Affected horses need to be kept dry and should always wear a turnout rug in the field. If possible, provide a field shelter. Avoid contact with wet, muddy fields (and wet in general) and also try to stop mud splashing onto the skin.

Does coconut oil help rain rot?

Just remember to always mix them with a soothing carrier like aloe vera or coconut oil before applying topically. All of these oils have antibacterial properties that can help address and relieve Rain Rot.

Can you use coconut oil for rain rot on horses?

Coconut oil is known to have anti-fungal/bacterial properties. It can help sooth and heal scratches, welts, mud fever, and rain rot. It also acts as a water barrier which allows the area to heal without it getting completely soaked or wet repeatedly which can be the cause of these bacterial or fungal infections.

Can dogs get rain rot like horses?

Rain rot (also known as rain scald, dew poisoning, dermatophilosis, or mud fever) is a common and highly contagious skin infection that occurs in dogs, cats, horses, cattle, sheep, and a wide variety of wild animals. It is caused by dermatophilus congolensis, a facultative anaerobic bacterium.

Can you treat wet rot yourself?

Wet Rot Treatment
In some extreme cases you will need to replace the affected timbers. However, in most cases you can stop wet rot by treating the timber with a fungicide. The treatment of wet rot involves applying a fungicide during the drying out period.

Does wet rot get worse?

Wet rot should be professionally treated as soon as any of the above symptoms are identified as the longer the wet rot is left untreated, the worse it will get and the greater threat it could pose to the structural timbers that are keeping your home standing.