Diagnosing, Treating, and Preventing Rain Rot in Horses

impact when these environmental conditions are present.
Prevention
Practicing good horse hygiene habits such as regular bathing and grooming is one of the best ways to prevent rain rot from occurring. Likewise reducing exposure to environmental factors known to increase incidence may help prevent this condition. If you know there will be heavy rainfall in your area keeping the horse in a barn or under shelter can help reduce risk. Also limiting access to muddy areas and trying to reduce the overall presence of mud may be helpful as the bacteria in mud caked on the horse could compromise the skin. If you are seeing high biting insect populations implement management practices based on fly species. Some of these practices include setting up traps increasing farm sanitation introducing parasitoid wasps and spraying the horse with a pyrethroidbased insecticide
Treatment
If the horse has a minor case of rain rot it will usually heal with a little bit of extra attention and care. Giving the horse a bath with an antimicrobial soap can help remove the scabs and disrupt the bacteria in the affected area. Additionally currying and brushing the horses coat can promote healing and prevent the spread or worsening of the area. As you work to remove scabs the affected area may become tender to the touch so be cautious with removal. Softening the scabs first makes removal easier and more comfortable for your horse. There are also topical antimicrobial products you may want to include in your treatment routine if you find it necessary.
Keep your horse dry and reduce exposure to known environmental factors during treatment. Try to keep horses with rain rot separated from others while treatment is occurring to prevent spread amongst horses. Similarly disinfect and replace contaminated grooming tools and other equipment as needed to prevent spread.
In severe cases your horse may need antibiotic injections given by a veterinarian. Skin biopsies may need to be conducted to identify if the cause of the infection and ensure it is rain rot. Seeking the advice of a veterinarian is always recommended when determining cause and making treatment plans.