First off, what is rain rot? In its simplest definition, Rain Rot is an infection of the skin that causes oozing scabs to appear almost overnight and spread quickly. It happens under humid conditions or when they are frequently blanketed and not given time to air out to be changed into a fresh, dry blanket.
But, what does it look like? Well, it is commonly found on their topline or rump and lesions may follow a “dribbling” pattern and the hair can become matted together. When you look closely you will be able to see portions of the hair are clumped together in thick, dried crusties. When you try to remove a crusty it may be dried, bloody, or contain puss and often they lose their hair in the affected area.
Now that we have a basic idea of what Rain Rot is, how do we treat it? It can be treated by using an antibacterial shampoo such as benzyl peroxide. Personally, I keep benzyl peroxide shampoo on hand because I’ve owned animals that are mainly white which means they tend to get skin infections much easier rather than the animals with darker coats. You can find benzyl peroxide shampoo online at Amazon or at most pet-related stores.
After you have washed your horse using a benzyl peroxide shampoo you can apply some aloe gel to the affected area to reduce itching and promote hair growth back to the area. The infected horse should be kept isolated until the Rain Rot has healed and all tack should be cleaned thoroughly to reduce the spreading of the infection.
It is important to note that this skin infection can be transmitted to humans as well so be cautious when treating an infected horse. Make sure to take precautions like wearing gloves during treatment and thoroughly washing your hands afterward.
As monsoon season is still in full swing in some parts of the world, it is important to keep an eye out for this particular skin infection. If you have dealt with this before and have some input on the topic, I’d love to hear from you! Drop a comment below or shoot me a message on my personal IG at @unbridledmama.
