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  Discussion on Rain Scald in Saddle Area
Author Message
New Member:
kathjune

Posted on Monday, Jul 16, 2007 - 2:09 am:

Hi

I have a six year old leopard spotted appy (lots of pink skin). Last week I loaned him to a friends daughter to take to pony club camp for the week. Although he seemed fine throughout after a day off on his return I noticed he was extremely sensitive to touch on his back (saddle area).

On closer observation the hair looked raised in the area where the sadddle(english)pannels sit. The skin looked slightly pink and seemed quite hot to touch. I assumed it was a friction problem from the saddle/saddlecloth and so applied aloe vera gel to soothe the area. However as I went to return him to his field I noticed a scabby rough skinned area on his chest which I recognised as 'rain scald (summer form)' as I would call it. Also now outside in the light I could see flakes of skin within the hair in the saddle area and also on his neck. I am now thinking that the saddle area problem could actually be a 'rainscald type' problem.

I know the horse got very hot and sweaty and was ridden for 4 hours a day for five days and that he was washed down at the end of each day to remove the sweat from his coat. However the constant state of wet skin through either sweat or water and warmth would lead to an ideal environment for the bacteria to thrive I guess.

The acute sensitivity he is displaying on touch gives me the impression it is more skin related than muscular.Here in the UK I would normally use with success, hibiscrub wash followed by protocon cream to treat rainscald/mudfever.

I have read the very helpful rainscald/rot/dermotophilus info though I just have a few additional questions.....

What is the best way to prevent this happening again - wash, no wash, preventative measures?
What would be the best type of saddle cloth to use to prevent reoccurance - cotton, sheepskin etc?
Could the flakes of skin indicate a mild rainscald although not the typical tufts of skin and hair typically found?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jul 16, 2007 - 8:07 am:

Hello Kath,
You prevent dermatophilus, and skin irritation in general, by doing whatever it takes to keep the skin clean and dry but without excessively removing the natural skin oils. Rinse horses well following riding, to remove the salts, but would avoid the frequent use of soaps.

Concerning the irritation I suspect the skin of the back of the horse is like skin anywhere, it adapts to use over time. By not suddenly increasing the amount of riding the skin adapts to use. It makes as much difference whether it be cotton or sheepskin as it does that it be as clean and dry as possible. For that reason we use the neoprene pads that have air cells designed into them that allows the skin underneath to get circulation. They can be rinsed following use hung up and be clean and dry in an hour or two.

If the hair is not falling out this may not be dermatophilus.
DrO
New Member:
kathjune

Posted on Monday, Jul 16, 2007 - 4:57 pm:

Thanks DrO

I have had another look today and cannot inspect very close at the moment as still very sore but he certainly seems to have a few patches of rainscald around his body from the constant warm and wet last week (although lots of rain here now too). I treated these with protocon and he's quite sore with them. Also treated his back the same but cannot at the moment tell if the hair is falling out or not as even the protocon DrOpping onto his back was about his limit of acceptance at the moment.

Are you able to give any recomendation or manufacturer of the neoprene pads you mention. Personally I have always avoided them as I thought they would get very sticky, very hot as well as gripping and pulling the hair. I'm not quite sure how the skin can get much circulation if the pad is trapped between saddle and horse? Maybe if I could find info on these type of pads I may get a better idea.

Many thanks
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jul 16, 2007 - 7:49 pm:

While they grip well they are not sticky (despite the name), they remain cool and much drier than other materials while being ridden because the web construction does breath actively as the amount of pressure you put on it changes with every step as you ride, out with the hot and humid, in with the fresh. We started with one as a trial and now all our horses have one and only one is needed because of its wash and dry qualities. This is a great pad. The name is Tacky-Tack and the only place I know you can find it is at National Bridle.
DrO
Member:
paul303

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 6:57 pm:

Dr.O is right. They are wonderful pads. Many years ago, when neoprene girths first came out. We picked one up right away - thought it would help to steady saddles on our low withered horses. That first neoprene stuff didn't breathe, and I really did not like the girth. They did sweat under them, and pinch and pull the hair. We dumped the girth in short order and avoided neoprene after that for a long time.

Then, a few years ago, my sister came home from the QH Congress with 4 of the saddle pads with the web construction. I had severe doubts about trying them. They worked great and made saddling up a breeze ( with a western saddle ), since they tend to stay put. It feels like you could mount up without tightening the girth. My horses actually sweat less in these pads and they seem more comfortable.
Member:
kathjune

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 10:23 pm:

Thanks Lee, the mesh construction of the pads sounds like a much better idea although this type are not commonly available in the UK. It clearly seems that the neoprene pads have come a long way since the early ones! I will try to find a retailer that will post to overseas.

After another check and hibiscrub treatment today it seems that the only definite rainscald is on his chest and a couple patches on his neck.

The saddle area and several other patches on his neck are tender to touch also although the only visible signs are some quite obvious shedding of large skin flakes in these areas. Whether these are early stages of dermotophillus infection or other bacterial infection I'm not sure but will carry on treating the same for now. DrO if you think I should do otherwise please let me know, I dont want to overdo it with the antibacterial washing if its going to be detrimental.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 - 9:05 am:

It is a hard judgement Kath, if it is dermatophilus (restudy the article for description) the antibacterial worthwhile, if it is a friction rub I like your orignal aloe treatment best.
DrO
Member:
kathjune

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 - 3:42 pm:

Hi again, sorry for having to come back yet again to ask more questions.

Having seen my horse again today I am almost certain now it is not rainscald (dermatophilus) in the saddle area. The skin looks pink and inflamed, the hair does come out quite easily but as individual hairs not clumped together. My main concern is how sore it still is having had several days off and treatment. Especally sensitive if I try to lift the hair or stroke it the wrong way at all. I have rewashed with hibiscrub and sprayed on some anti fungal/bacterial spray (protocon was becoming a bit messy and sore for him in its removal). Although he is not quite as sore as he was I would of expected more improvement had my efforts been having some effect.

I am thinking that he has an infection in the hair follicles which I am not reaching. If this is such an infection will he need antibiotics from the vet to clear it?

I have seen folliculitus (summer rash) described on the web which sounds like it.I suppose with the heat, sweat and friction of the saddle through a week of hard work something such as a staphlococcal (sp) is a possibility.

Hoping to hear back soon so I can hopefully call my vet before the weekend if necessary.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 - 8:44 am:

And I still don't see anything that rules out what is historically reported: irritation from unusually aggressive riding period Kath, depending on the severity this may take weeks to heal and if bruising occurred maybe over a month. One think I still don't see is the use of NSAID's (bute) which may greatly relieve the pain. What are the ingredients in Protocon?
DrO
Member:
kathjune

Posted on Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 - 5:17 pm:

Thanks DrO. Thankfully he's much better today, still slightly sore but vastly improved.

The area is now rough feeling and covered in what seems to be general scabbing over the whole saddle area. I am now thinking the hairloss in this area is just him loosing his summer coat as many others are doing the same. He only showed some slight discomfort tonight when I was trying to get a good look at the scabbing.

I havent used Bute as I can only get this prescribed by the vet after an actual visit, which I havent resorted to yet. As he only seems sore when I actually touch the area and is playing as normally in the field I didnt feel he was suffering too much. I cannot think of any effective pain relief we can obtain in the UK without a vets consultation.

I am unsure of the ingredients of Protocon as it is at the yard. I will let you know in due course.
Member:
kathjune

Posted on Friday, Jul 20, 2007 - 3:01 pm:

The 'Protocon Gold' I was using contains 10% sulphur and 1.5% salycilic acid in a base.
I have found this to have worked well in the treatment of mild cases of rainscald & mudfever previously.

Much further improvement again today, not sensitive at all now unless I really start poking around too much. I am hoping the scabs will fall away now and all will be well. I have today bought some 'leovet bio skin oil' which I am hoping will help in the healing and descabbing process. Hopefully I can be riding again in another week all being well. No sign of soreness with pressure so am assuming no bruising thankfully.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 - 10:30 am:

Note that salicylic acid is a common "rubefacient" used in arthritis cremes and also in some liniments to create heat in the skin through its mildly irritating properties and so not the best choice for irritated skin.
DrO
Member:
kathjune

Posted on Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 - 3:51 pm:

oh, I thought it was connected with aspirin so didnt realise it would have this effect.
Only info I can find on it on the net is that it is commonly used in skin preperations for acne, psoriasis etc. Protocon gold is actually marketed as being a 'soothing antiseptic skin gel for horses and ponies. For the treatment of minor skin problems in muddy conditions.' Thanks for the info anyway. I did stop using it after the first two days as it's a bit messy!

His hair is now falling out in scabby lumps and very sore with it. Not sure if its dermotophilis as it isnt particularly infected looking underneath but in every other way now very typical of rainscald.

It is raining lots here now, continously and I was thinking of trying washing with hibiscrub and then using keratex powder to help to dry the area and repeat daily. Any reason why not?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 - 6:32 pm:

Kath, I don't know what is in the Keratex but I would hang with our recommendations in the article they are gentle yet effective. Also protect from the rain and direct intense sunlight.
DrO
Member:
kathjune

Posted on Monday, Jul 23, 2007 - 1:38 pm:

I had to have the vet out for our other pony today (unrelated to this case) and he also had a look at this ones sore back. I had washed his back in hibiscrub this morning and all the scabs came away leaving behind a few bald sore looking patches. The vet didnt feel it was particuilarly infected with anything just a combination of wet and friction from increased workload.

He recommended I carry on with dilute hibiscrub washes and to keep dry and clean as possible. Also 1 bute twice a day for a few days.

Thanks DrO and everyone else for your help on this, and pleased to say it now seems to be healing quickly.
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