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What is Rainrot? | MHS Equestrian
Rainrot is a nasty and in some cases persistent skin condition. However, Rainrot has nothing to do with scab or the scab mite. Rainrot is caused by a bacterium.
Dermatophylus congolense
Rainrot is caused by the bacterium Dermatophylus congolense (Latin name).This skin condition is one of the most clearly diagnosed bacterial skin conditions in a horse.
Does your horse suffer from Rainrot, then this can be transferred to humans. This means that the bacterium is a zoonosis - a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. However, this is exceptional. This does not change the fact that it is wise to be very careful and always wear gloves when treat your horse in the case of Rainrot.
Causes for Rainrot
If your horse has a scrap, the bacteria will crawl into the superficial cells of the skin and into the root sheaths of the hair. This becomes easier for the bacteria when the skin is wet and the protective greasy layer on your horse's coat has been lost.
Rainrot - as the name suggests - usually occurs in animals that walk outside in rainy weather for a long time. Animals that live in poor hygienic conditions are also often victims of the bacteria. In addition, a slight damage to the skin, for example due to a stabbing insect or abrasion, can be an entrance for the bacteria.
This is how you recognize Rainrot
Rainrot initially looks a lot like a fungal infection of the skin. Where a fungal infection usually causes itching, this is not immediately the case with Rainrot. The places that arise are very painful.
Crusts appear on the skin. Upon removal, these crusts leave a pink, open space. They are moist and have pus at the bottom. The hairs, including roots, often also stick through the crusts. For that reason it is also called paintbrushes.
Often the upper part of the back and the hindquarters are affected by the bacteria. The pattern in which the water drains from your horse's body can also be recognized. On average, the skin condition has a duration of illness of two to six months. In many cases, animals with the condition heal spontaneously.
Diagnosing Rainrot
Because Rainrot has a typical look, it is fairly easy to recognize. To be absolutely sure, crusts should be sent to the laboratory. They are put there for breeding.
The treatment
First remove the crusts and wash the spots with a disinfecting shampoo. Are the spots on the skin of your horse too painful? Then use a sedation. This is a tranquilizer. Antibiotics are only required in serious cases or when washing is not possible, for example due to weather conditions.
Are all places healed under the saddle and the girth? Then you can drive again. In many cases the correct treatment (in consultation with the veterinarian) will make the healing faster than if your horse had to recover.
Prevention is better than cure
In general the skin of your horse can defend itself well against intruders from outside. If the skin is wet for a long time, the bacteria are more likely to crawl into the skin. Preventing your horse from standing in the rain for a long time is therefore the best option.
This text was translated by Google