Rain rot in horses

Straight to treatment

Infection with bacteria: 

Rain rot called dermatophilosis is a skin infection caused by a bacterium known as Dermatophilus congolensis. Scabies is caused by mites. Rain rot, on the other hand, results from a bacterial infection. D. congolensis lives on the horse's skin and is usually inactive, but under wet conditions, this bacterium can cause an inflammatory infection.

Prolonged rain:

In what way will skin protection weaken? It is usually due to prolonged humidity. If the skin is constantly wet, and does not get a chance to dry up, the protective layer of fat that lies on the skin gradually breaks down. The skin softens. In this way, dermatophilus congolensis can break through the natural protection and trigger infection. Rain rot usually results from rain and little sun, when horses do not really get dry. Horses are at a higher risk if they run outside day and night, they have little protection from the rain.

Other:

Horses that are often rinsed off after training, and then put in their stalls with a blanket, will similarly soften the skin. This also occurs in horses that are put on a blanket (with the best of intentions) while still relatively thick in hair, so they are constantly sweating under their blanket. It is much harder for older horses, horses that are malnourished and horses with reduced natural resistance to get rain rot. Horses with summer eczema are also more likely to get infected.

How do I prevent rain rot?

Preventing rain rot is often a matter of proper care. A dirty coat naturally contains more organisms and skin debris to feed it. Regular brushing or vacuuming reduces the incidence and severity of rain rot. However, some horses are particularly sensitive and may need to be protected from wet weather to prevent future outbreaks. Avoid sharing brushes, harnesses, blankets or other equipment from affected horses, as this helps prevent the spread of rain rot. The sooner you notice rain rot, the sooner you can spare your horse prolonged discomfort and long-term damage to the hair follicles. As soon as you suspect rain rot, you should immediately consult with begin .