Rain Rot med suggestions?

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

Thanks to record setting October rains (read: almost every day), it's not enough that everything is a muddy disgusting quagmire. Apparetly, my horse is just starting rain rot.

What meds do you like best? Suggestions? There are new ones out on the market, I've never had to use, and the rest of the barn either hasn't needed them either or hasn't had to use them in ages (like, since the 1992 flood).

Thanks!

[ChocoMare]

Gentle washing (when you can) with warm water and Nolvasan surgical scrub. Let it sit 10-15 minutes and rinse well. Dry completely. Then apply Muck Itch (https://www.muckitch.com/scripts/prodview.asp?idproduct=5)

I would also do a double dose of Equimax, since RR is often the result of the remaining microfilaria hatching through the skin....consequently, the horse itches, scratches and let's in the bacteria that cause the rain rot. ;)

[TooManyChickens]

What did the trick for my gelding was betadine 2x a day. Gently work a lather up, and then let it sit for about 5-10 mins, then rinse. I've heard Listerine can work for some folks, but I'd stay away from it if there are any raw/especially tender spots. Eqyss Micro-Tek also makes a great shampoo. I get great results with it if I happen to be out of Betadine. Try to get what scabs off that you can (very gently) without upsetting the patient.. oxygen needs to get in! Some people also swear by Cowboy Magic's Krud Buster. It's nice because it's in a spray form, but I believe it needs to be rinsed.

[tabula rashah]

I do a good scrub with warm water and novalsan scrub, then once they've dried a liberal spray down with listerine. If I can do a "bath" with the nolvasan and its just the beginning of it- a good dousing with Gold Bond Medicated Powder rubbed in with a brush works pretty well too.

[hr]

I've had good luck this year with a stirred together combination of Desitin, Neosporin or triple antibiotic and an anti-fungal. Apply it liberally, work it in really good to soften the scabs. By the 2nd day most of the scabs are gone, and so is the rainrot/scratches!

[alteringwego]

wash with nolvasan, remove scabs, then apply MTG and/or Micro-tek

[stryder]

Poor Ted!

I've had good results with Magic Stuff from http://www.equitelligent.com/

Just e-mail or call Vanessa and ask her to send you some. Magic Stuff is tea tree oil-based, with lavender and other essential oils. It has anti-fungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. I've used it to alleviate crusties and the beginnings of thrush.

It smells good, and can be used for other things, too.

I've also used Muck Itch, but that stuff is nasty.

[asb_own_me]

DGRH, PM me with your address and I'll send you some Hibiclens. Betadine does NOT clear up rain rot - for folks who know how iodophors work, this makes perfect sense.

[gypsymare]

MTG!! Tried daily applications of Micro-tek with no results. Shampoo and the leave-in. Two days of MTG and it's gone. Use a metal shedding blade to remove the scabs after the MTG has softened them up. Much much easier than finger picking them.

[Zipsmom]

Agree with the MTG suggestion

[JetsBuddy]

I've had good luck with using a dandruff shampoo (antifungal) and when dry applying Gold Bond Powder. The powder gets down to the skin and stays there.

[Desert Topaz]

I've had good results with Equiderma (http://www.equiderma.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=33) with my skin problem prone mare.

[LegalEagle]

DGRH, PM me with your address and I'll send you some Hibiclens. Betadine does NOT clear up rain rot - for folks who know how iodophors work, this makes perfect sense.


I don't know what an idophor is but Hibiclens works great for me! I shampoo the area with it, and while it is "soaking" I take the scabs off (I use my dog's furminator brush). Rain rot is gone in one treatment.

It's caused by an anaerobic bacteria so the key is getting the scabs off. I like using the Hibiclens (or nolvasan) to prevent secondary infection and because I like to think it helps prevent the nasties from coming back for a couple of days at least.

[iechris]

Gentle washing (when you can) with warm water and Nolvasan surgical scrub. Let it sit 10-15 minutes and rinse well. Dry completely. Then apply Muck Itch (https://www.muckitch.com/scripts/prodview.asp?idproduct=5)


This is exactly what we were doing at the barn this AM. Have also used MTG instead of Muck Itch.

[goeslikestink]

hibbyscrub then leave to dry then nappy rash cream like zinc and castor oil as it a barrier against moisture dont rug the horse until healed and dont turn out in wet weather until the coat grown back in

[Raystown]

Chlorhexidine (much cheaper than Nolvasan!)

[LauraKY]

Wellhorse. Expensive but it works. We had rain rot last spring, tried everything for 3 weeks. Two days of Well Horse spray and it was gone.

[Robin@DHH]

Cost saving tip, medicated body powder (generic Gold Bond Powder)
is sold at my local Dollar Store for (you guessed it) $1 per can. That
is considerably less than the brand name and even some cheaper
than Walmart's own brand. Given how much you need for a horse,
the cost saving may well be worth the extra stop to purchase.

[BeastieSlave]

I like Chlorhex for bathing (Head & Shoulders in a pinch), MTG to leave on when it's cloudy (I've had it 'burn' on sunny days), and to leave on when it's sunny, Listerine (sp?). Yes, the mouthwash. That was a Pony Club trick that I really like - works for dandruff too.

Good luck! I've decided that most of my herd is getting at least a partial clip over the weekend. Everyone got wooly when the temps dipped into low 40's upper 30's and now that it's in the mid to upper 80's they're suffering and the rain has made them ripe for rain rot :mad:

[Hampton Bay]

Sponge vinegar over pony. Let dry. Repeat daily. Cheapest and works better than any of the anitfungal powders or creams, betadine, nolvasan, sulfur-containing products, etc. And the smell tends to keep the bugs away.

[Equilibrium]

I just started doing this and am amazed at the results. I gently clean the area and dry before applying manuka honey directly on the skin and rubbing around to get in all areas. Then I take a zinc cream and put a big thick layer over this to keep as a barrier. I leave on for 3 or 4 days depending and wash again.

This worked better than me making the special cream everyone describes. I was also annoyed as I lost a whole tube of neosporin which we just can't get here.

Also, an immune booster supplement might not be a bad idea. We all tend to blame the mud, but when I have 31 horses here and only one with the condition, you have to think they just might be a little low in the immune system. I was also doing the above with a liver tonic and I'm sure it helped.

Terri

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

Well, Ted has (had) three scabs, but apparently his buddy Bow has a far more widespread case. It poured AGAIN today, traffic was awful, could not get the hibiclens or nolvasan, but did have MTG and equineartworks' salve on hand. Anything else will just get rained off anyway, until it stops raining...if that will ever happen...

thanks so much, I appreciate the feedback!

[MunchkinsMom]

I've had good results with Equiderma (http://www.equiderma.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=33) with my skin problem prone mare.

Same here, I was amazed at how quickly it clears up rain rot - usually within days of application.

[Equilibrium]

Well, Ted has (had) three scabs, but apparently his buddy Bow has a far more widespread case. It poured AGAIN today, traffic was awful, could not get the hibiclens or nolvasan, but did have MTG and equineartworks' salve on hand. Anything else will just get rained off anyway, until it stops raining...if that will ever happen...

thanks so much, I appreciate the feedback!

Poor Ted! And I know how you feel about that never ending rain!

Terri

[Druid Acres]

Also, an immune booster supplement might not be a bad idea. We all tend to blame the mud, but when I have 31 horses here and only one with the condition, you have to think they just might be a little low in the immune system. I was also doing the above with a liver tonic and I'm sure it helped.


Total agreement on this one. I like Bio-Quench from Uckele but I'm sure there are other good ones as well.

BTW, we had the rainiest October on record here - I feel your pain.

[ShadowsMom]

I'm in NE Georgia and my horses developed rain rot about a month ago. They each got two baths with Equi Tek and the Desitin treatment on their legs. They still had the RR and scratches bad. Someone suggested MTG and it was a God send. Two treatments with MTG and the RR and scratches are all gone. I first put the MTG on to soften the scabs over night, then scraped them all off with my finger nails (yuk). Then added more MTG and repeated the process. It really works! It smells terrible, so if you can, wear rubber gloves and old clothes.

[Sugarbrook]

We live in Florida. It rains all the time in the spring, summer and into the fall. I know rain rot very well. We use Micro-Tek. Tried everything else(but not the Gold Bond powder, but will pick up some). Micro-Tek clears it up in days.

[NMK]

I have used Selsun Blue medicated (and the generic CVS version) with a topical (MTG or even monistat) on the bad break outs works great.

[asb_own_me]

Hibiclens' active ingredient is 4% chlorhexidine gluconate. It's the least irritating CHG product available on the market.

For the person who asked about iodophors, an iodophor=iodine product. Iodophors are inactivated in the presence of blood or other organic material...like a bodily secretion/ooze/pus. CHG continues to work. CHG also has two other things going for it - persistent and cumulative effects. Persistence means it keeps working; Hibiclens continues to act against microorganisms for up to 6 hours after application. Cumulative effect means that gains a higher cumulative kill rate after each repeated application.

[johnnysauntie]

made by keratex as a preventative...I'll let you know if it works. I only apply when he's clean legged (after grooming, riding, and clean-up) on legs...


Me too. Big fan of Mud Shield.

[LegalEagle]

Thanks for the info asb_own_me! I knew the Hibiclens worked for me and now I know why! :)

[cloudyandcallie]

Go to walmart and buy the biggest bottle of Listerine, original formula.
Test spot to make sure no problems. I've never known a horse to be allergic to Listerine, but people on coth aways say test it.
Apply full strength and leave it on.
Use often to prevent rain rot.
Bonus is it repels flies and skeeters and ants.

When Callie was in her early 20s we moved to a barn where she got wet. When tiny hairs started sticking out, I ran to feed store to buy expensive cure. QH people at feed store said get the Listerine. They were right. She didn't lose her hair, never had another problem with rain rot the rest of her life.

If you want to spend more money you can buy a gallon of chlorohexadrine at tsc. Or that expensive dermagard that one BO wanted me to use instead of Listerine.

[Leather]

I'm lazy so I buy Malaseb shampoo rather than make up my own concoctions. It's both antifungal and antibacterial, so I cover both bases.

Clip afflicted area, use a small amount of warm water to get a good lather with the shampoo, let it sit for 15 minutes, then rinse. (I use different buckets/sponges for the wetting and rinsing phases.)

Dry area completely with a hair dryer.

Repeat every other day for about a week.

I've done this treatment in November in Minnesota in an unheated barn, and while not fun it's not that bad. You don't need that much water--two small buckets of warm water is all.

I don't use topicals as they tend to keep air away from the little skin greeblies, most of which are anaerobic. The shampoo should be enough--it leaves a "residue" of the active ingredients.

If I have a sheet/blanket on the horse I will put it out in the sun for a couple of hours to help sanitize it.

[PaintedBones]

asb_own_me
where can you buy hibiclens? would it be the same as buying chlorhexidine?? My poor guy has a bad case of rain rot and the micro tek just isnt working. Thanks!

Bones

[mustangtrailrider]

The ingredient that you want is chlorhexidine gluconate. It is the ingredient in Hibiclens. CG is the chemical name, Hibiclens is the brand name. Another name is Exidine, which we use in Surgery. Hibiclens is pink in color, Exidine is clear.

Anyways, I love CG for rainrot. Along with a spray mixed 3:1 betadine and listerine. The smell is wonderful and it seems to get rid of RR almost immediately.

[sid]

Yep, Gold Bond Foot Powder. Brush it into the coat dry and leave it on for 24 hrs, then brush out. It has a fungacide in it. Been using it for years. I also use it as a preventative for sensitive horses before and after a hard rain.

(Alert -- some horses are severely allergic to chlorhexadine (Novlasan). I have one. Huge hives that break open with puss then massive hair loss (basically, contact dermititis). That's the main ingredient in Micro-tech as well. If you've not used it, try a test patch first.)

[asb_own_me]

MTR - it's CHG, not CG.

sid, a reaction can be caused by the inactive ingredients - it's not only the CHG that can cause a reaction. A patch test is never a bad idea.

PaintedBones - I don't know where you're located, but there are a lot of pharmacies that either carry Hibiclens or can order it for you. I'll send you a PM.

[mustangtrailrider]

Oh, Asb on me, excuse me! I was simply using initials, not trying to be correct!

I love Chlorhexidine Gluconate for these purposes, or CG for short, for me anyways!

[Invite]

Poor Mr. Ted!!! Quite a few years ago a 2 year old shipped into the track with awful rainrot. MTG cleared it up. Of course I thought that poor colt had bad rainrot, but a few years ago we had a warmblood gelding ship in for training and he had HORRID rainrot. The poor guy was backed and then put into a field for a year. He actually needed antibiotics because his skin condition was so bad. It cleared up and he ended up being gorgeous :)

[barrelchick00]

Ok I have no idea what people are going to say about this but...when I was growing up my mother used bleach/water mix for her mare that got rain rot every spring and fall. It took care of it and did not hurt her coat. (on a side note the mare lived to be 36) So if I needed to use it on my mare I would do it. The mix was 2 caps fulls to 5 gallons of water. I remember because I had to make it the last two times...:) smart thing mom.. Good luck!!

[PennyChrome]

Nolvasan or Betadine scrub and followup with MTG

[ddashaq]

Those of you that use hibiclens, where do you get it? We have had a wetter than usual summer and fall and my TB keeps breaking with rain rot and mud fever. I have not found anything that has completely cleared it up.

[LegalEagle]

Those of you that use hibiclens, where do you get it? We have had a wetter than usual summer and fall and my TB keeps breaking with rain rot and mud fever. I have not found anything that has completely cleared it up.

Walgreens has it I know for sure. It is in the first aid section near band aids and the neosporin but it can be kind of hidden on the bottom shelf. I am sure other drugstores have it too.

[tehorse]

Thanks to record setting October rains (read: almost every day), it's not enough that everything is a muddy disgusting quagmire. Apparetly, my horse is just starting rain rot.

What meds do you like best? Suggestions? There are new ones out on the market, I've never had to use, and the rest of the barn either hasn't needed them either or hasn't had to use them in ages (like, since the 1992 flood).

Thanks!

Hi
What we found works well is a mixture of 10 parts
6 parts mineral oil
2 parts tea tree oil
2 parts betadine
you can lightly work it in and leave it on
also always use all of the mix fresh, it is no good if the mix sits.

[tehorse]

Thanks!
Hi
What we found works well is a mixture of 10 parts
6 parts mineral oil
2 parts tea tree oil
2 parts betadine
you can lightly work it in and leave it on
also always use all of the mix fresh, it is no good if the mix sits.
Edit/Delete Message

[Seven-up]

This is the only product you'll ever need.

Nolvasan surgical scrub.

Wet horse down, apply directly to horse, scrub and let sit for 10-15 min. While it's sitting, pick off ALL the scabs. Every single one. Rinse very well. You can use it on their faces as long as you are SUPER careful about not getting it in their eyes. I like to use a wet sponge to wipe off most of it, and then gently spray with the hose. If you sponge off most of it, it will be very diluted once you use the hose. But getting it in their eyes can cause blindness.

If you want, you can just scrub the areas with scabs, but I strongly recommend doing the entire horse. The funk can be in areas that haven't developed scabs yet.


That's it. It works in one application. I can't stress this enough. One time.

I recommend gooping on something like Corona ointment the night before on all of the scabby areas, and then rinse off right before you scrub w/Nolvasan. You won't have to stand there forever picking scabs. They usually just rinse right off. It's messy, but spread on a thick layer. Makes things way easier.

[CookiePony]

Yep, Gold Bond Foot Powder. Brush it into the coat dry and leave it on for 24 hrs, then brush out. It has a fungacide in it. Been using it for years. I also use it as a preventative for sensitive horses before and after a hard rain.

(Alert -- some horses are severely allergic to chlorhexadine (Novlasan). I have one. Huge hives that break open with puss then massive hair loss (basically, contact dermititis). That's the main ingredient in Micro-tech as well. If you've not used it, try a test patch first.)

Actually, I though Microtek was triclosan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triclosan).

Also, isn't there a problem with using Betadine and MTG together?

[PaintedBones]

Also, isn't there a problem with using Betadine and MTG together?

Actually, it's the Micro-tek and anything containing iodine. Does anyone know, if you do use the Micro-tek, how long you have to wait until you can use something with iodine in it? I've used it on my horse, and will shampoo again before I use anything else, but am worried about there still being a reaction.

asb...PM received, reply sent...Thanks!

Bones

[LD1129]

My trainer swears by this mix in a spray bottle. Water, vinegar, and some nolvalson (sp?). Not too much nolvalson but it should be blue in color. Spray on a few times and the rain rot is gone.

[titan]

I've had good results with Equiderma (http://www.equiderma.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=33) with my skin problem prone mare.


Any clorohexidine product (unless allergic as mentioned above) and I really liked the equiderma recommended by Topaz.

[ddashaq]

Hibiclens' active ingredient is 4% chlorhexidine gluconate. It's the least irritating CHG product available on the market.

For the person who asked about iodophors, an iodophor=iodine product. Iodophors are inactivated in the presence of blood or other organic material...like a bodily secretion/ooze/pus. CHG continues to work. CHG also has two other things going for it - persistent and cumulative effects. Persistence means it keeps working; Hibiclens continues to act against microorganisms for up to 6 hours after application. Cumulative effect means that gains a higher cumulative kill rate after each repeated application. How I know this - I work for Molnlycke.

DGRH - I put a half dozen 8 oz. bottles of Hibi in the mail to you today, via USPS Priority. It cleared up the rain rot in my friend's husband's polo pony string and they haven't had any recurrences. They had been fighting rain rot and associated baldness for the last several years, despite using every last thing the vet recommended.

Thanks for the explanation. I will be heading out for hibiclens tonight. Can anyone recommend an immune booster?

[Leather]

Ok I have no idea what people are going to say about this but...when I was growing up my mother used bleach/water mix for her mare that got rain rot every spring and fall. It took care of it and did not hurt her coat. (on a side note the mare lived to be 36) So if I needed to use it on my mare I would do it. The mix was 2 caps fulls to 5 gallons of water. I remember because I had to make it the last two times...:) smart thing mom.. Good luck!!

Sounds similar to Dakin's solution:

http://doreen.mkbmemorial.com/NF/dakins.pdf

[asb_own_me]

Nolvasan is a 2% chlorhexidine acetate. I'd bet that Hibiclens is cheaper, and I know for a fact that it works where Nolvasan doesn't. A few dozen polo ponies can't be wrong ;)

ddashaq - if you can't find it locally, PM me.

[KSAQHA]

Those of you that use hibiclens, where do you get it? I picked some up at WalMart last week to use on a paint's white legs. They only stocked a small sized bottle (8 oz, at most), at $6.00, and it doesn't go far. I've used it all up after only two applications, with no noticeable improvement...yet.

I'm having a heck of a time just getting the scabs to soften up!

...just looked at the bottle - only 4 oz, so fairly pricey.

[Lesley Feakins]

We had a weaning with rain rot which showed up after 3 days of solid rain. I used MTG and with a rubber glove worked it in down to the skin as best I could. When I checked her again in two days the scabs were really soft and I could just curry them off. Worked great.

As far as an immune supplement. I would suggest Immunal. Great product.

[Seven-up]

I picked some up at WalMart last week to use on a paint's white legs. They only stocked a small sized bottle (8 oz, at most), at $6.00, and it doesn't go far. I've used it all up after only two applications, with no noticeable improvement...yet.

I'm having a heck of a time just getting the scabs to soften up!

...just looked at the bottle - only 4 oz, so fairly pricey.

Get some Corona ointment and apply a layer of it to the scabs and leave it overnight. The next day, rinse it off. If you have a hose with a sprayer nozzle, it rinses right off. If the scabs don't rinse off with it, they'll be so soft you can just wipe them off. Then scrub with Nolvasan. There is no waiting for improvement with Nolvasan. Use it, get the scabs off, and the rain rot is gone. Period. Hair starts growing back within a week.

[lesbrill54]

I use a mixture of equal parts baby oil, hair conditioner and listerine. This softens up the cruddy scabs so I can pick them off. When i've done the i might give them betadine shampoo, and then i just leave them alone. If I find more scabby areas, i retreat. Easier to cure when they're growing in a new coat, but if you dont get the scabs off, you're pissing in the wind.some people find getting the scabs off repulsive, but i just love picking at them.

[LauraKY]

I can get chlorhexidine scrub (generic for Novalsan) at KBC in Lexington for about $35/gallon. Use it all the time. Also mix with water for an antibacterial spray. Bought a gallon a year ago and still have 1/3 of it left.