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  Discussion on Is it still rain scald?
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Posted on Sunday, Apr 21, 2002 - 2:37 pm:

I bought this pony who was very badly neglected. He was covered in rain scald but I am now doubting whether it is.
I`ve had him 6 months now, he`s been fully clipped, treated with some lotion for rain scald which also treats all bacterial and fungus infections and he`s had a course of antibiotics.

All the scabs have gone now but he has these very odd black looking patches where the scabs were. They are on his neck back and bum. They seem to have taken over his coat and he no longer has any normal hair covering them. They are quite large some as big as a palm, is this still a result of rain scald?

He`s very touchy on his skin and hates been brushed or even patted. So I can`t work out what the problem is.

Posted on Monday, Apr 22, 2002 - 6:48 am:

Hello Mr. Allen,
"Very odd black looking patches" does not help us very much. Are you saying the skin/hair has turned black here? How is the hair not normal? It sounds like they are not scabs can you give us more details?
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 23, 2002 - 8:36 am:

Hi,
The skin & hair has turned black in these patches. my horse is bright bay allover except for these black hair and black skin patches.
I have looked at them again this morning, they are not scabs at all, could it be the skin has died? Its also in strange places like under his neck, so if it was rain scald why does my horse have it all underneath his neck? It looks like splashes of acid and as if the skin has been burned? Strange.

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 24, 2002 - 6:01 am:

No I think what you are seeing is a reaction to acute severe inflammation: the proliferation of melantocytes. This is a fairly common reaction that I see more in bays and dark chestnuts. This will improve over the next few sheddings but as long as the skin and hair are normal other than the color I don't think there is much you can do for it nor much to worry about.
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 24, 2002 - 7:08 am:

Thanks,
The other thing I have noticed about his skin but not in theses black patch areas is that it is very very greasy. He is rugged up and regularly groomed and is clipped. Is there any reason why he should produce so much grease, if you run your hand across his back you end up with a very grey hand.
This grease seems to be being produced daily, If I brush him for example last night and his skin is grease free the next morning when I remove his rug he is covered in grease deposits. I have tried washing him but still the grease prevails.

Could he have a skin problem? I have also noticed his legs are scurfy and greasy and it looks like he`s developing something, I can`t understand why his skin seems to be getting worse and He has DrOpped a lot of weight just over the last cople of days despite being fed well.

Its summer hear now and his condition seems to be getting unexplainably worse. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks

Posted on Thursday, Apr 25, 2002 - 6:10 am:

I suspect the greasyness represents a mixture of excessive keratin production (hyperkeratosis) and active oil (sebaceous) glands. You might try some of the shampoos designed to treat seborrhea available at the vets office for dogs and I think they are coal tar based shampoos. I don't know what might be available at the drug store for humans.

But again I believe these are not a disease but a reaction of the damaged skin to the dermatophillus and with time will improve, though they may not ever completely disappear.
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Apr 25, 2002 - 10:16 am:

From the drugstore you can get Denorex Extra Strength shampoo [for people]. It is coal tar based and I've used it on a lot of horses with skin problems with much success.
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