RAIN SCALD

WHAT IS RAIN SCALD?

These are the same bacteria that cause mud fever, but with rain scald, scabs appear anywhere along the pony’s back, neck and hindquarters, rather than on the legs. The scabs characteristically peel off with some hair attached, which leads people to describe them as paintbrush scabs.

Mud fever is caused by the same bacteria as rain scald.

What causes rain scald?

Rain scald typically occurs in wet and muddy weather (as the name suggests) but can also result from a pony sweating a lot, particularly under a fly sheet or a rug. The bacteria dermatophilus congolensis thrive in these damp conditions and cause this skin disease.

What should I do?

If you see any scabs and are worried it might be rain scald, ask your vet to look your pony over. It is important that you do this to get a proper diagnosis, as it can be easy to confuse rain scald with other infectious conditions like ringworm that need different treatment.

How is it treated?

Firstly, you will need to remove your pony from the wet conditions in so far as is possible, and you may be advised to clip away any excess hair in the affected area to speed up healing.

Your vet will then show you how to mix a suitable anti-bacterial solution with which you can cleanse the skin. You will need to keep up the cleansing regime until the area has completely healed. After cleaning, your vet may also recommend that you use an antibiotic cream. In severe cases, your pony may be given oral antibiotics.

It’s also essential to clean all of your pony’s brushes, numnahs and any rugs or sheets with diluted disinfectant to avoid the infection reoccurring.

Prevention

The best ways to prevent rain scald are:

1. to make sure your pony has plenty of chance to dry after getting wet;

2. to avoid over-rugging your pony;

3. to groom your pony thoroughly, particularly if he has been in a muddy or wet area.