The Skinny on Skin Disorders

The Skinny on Skin - Breakouts That Won’t Give You a Break

“Where are all these bumps coming from?” your riding partner asks you. “Just look at this rough patch on my horse’s coat, and these scabs on his pasterns and fetlocks?” After inspecting the horse’s coat with your fingers, you venture down his leg to examine the scabs before you pronounce your opinion, “Rain rot and scratches.” Upset with your analysis, you’re riding partner grumbles, “How can this be? I thought I took great care of my horse!”

It isn’t fun to get smacked with a diagnosis of dermatitis - the heartache of believing that your level of care for your horse is excellent - but those tell tale bumps, well, they don’t lie. What did you miss?

Well, first of all, you’re not alone. Many local horse owners complained last season about skin afflictions. It was during that time that I personally discovered the difference between rain rot, or rain scald, and dew poisoning, or leg scratches – the list of names goes on – and how much of a nuisance these skin problems can be.

I discovered that rain rot and dew poisoning, both bacterial skin diseases, can in fact become a plague all their own, regardless of how much good care and attention you might be giving. My learning curve came as a result of having to deal with rain rot and dew poisoning, interestingly, during the driest part of the summer. So what’s the deal? And, how can a horse be stabled indoors and still come down with dew poisoning? What is the deal?

As we approach mud season again, let’s resolve to be ready. I have two great articles to share with you that handle these subjects from start to finish, from minor concerns to severe ones. One big thing to remember when dealing with skin irritations is how contagious they are, so it is important to sterilize any equipment used on the infected horse, before using it on other horses. It is also advisable to use a completely different set of brushes and equipment for the affected horse. Finally, don’t forget to wash your hands between horses.

Thanks for reading,

Jeff Wilson

Links:

Dew Poisoning/Scratches and Rain Rot