Rain Scald

Rainscald is a common skin disease found in horses during times of particularly bad wet weather. It is caused by a type of bacteria called D. Congolensis and commonly found in moist, tropical areas, but can  can also be found in wet northern environments such as our own.

Rainscald causes serious irritation of and infection of the skin, culminating in painful legions and scabs. Thankfully, the disease normally heals on its own, but scabs can be softened with benzoyl peroxide and chlorhexidine and removed in order to speed the healing process. Just ask your vet for more information.

When grooming the horse, be extremely gentle and avoid brushing from affected to unaffected areas, and avoid sharing grooming equipment with other horses. Typically the disease is not life threatening, nor does it impact the welfare of the horse, so treatments are more for the owner's sake of mind and cosmetic appeal of the animal.

However, in order to prevent rainscald, it is important to stop the spread of bacteria. Tick and insect control - another major cause for the disease to spread - is an effective way to stop the spread of the bacteria from one animal to another. Separating and quarantining infected animals will also help to stop the spread of bacterial infection. Keeping the animal in a dry, well-ventilated area out of the rain and wet conditions will stop the bacteria from growing.