| Dermatophilosis is a condition that horses can | | | | hair root removing these hives does not seem to |
| contract. Dermatophilosis is a condition commonly | | | | bother or pain the horse inanyway. Once the scabs |
| referred to as rain rot, rain scald, and streptothricosis. | | | | hives are removed owners can see that the skin |
| Dermatophilosis that appears on the horses lower leg | | | | under the hives is generally a pink color and oozing a |
| is often called dew poisoning. Although | | | | yellow pus. |
| Dermatophilosis can be seen throughout the country | | | | Horses affected by Dermatophilosis do not seem to |
| it is most common in the southeastern portion of the | | | | be in pain nor do they appear to be embarrassed by |
| United States where the weather condition is | | | | their condition. The only time the condition appears to |
| frequently wet, warm, and humid. | | | | be painful is if the area affected is a covered with a |
| Dermatophilosis is most commonly seen in horses | | | | saddle. Owners who have a horse who has signs of |
| mammals such as cattle, sheep, and goats are also | | | | Dermatophilosis on their spine should refrain from |
| commonly affected. Dermatophilosis has also been | | | | riding until the condition has cleared. |
| diagnosed in pigs, dogs, and cats although the | | | | Typically veterinarians do not recommend using any |
| condition is not as common. A few rare cases of | | | | ointments to treat Dermatophilosis because the |
| humans being affected with Dermatophilosis have | | | | ointments simply add moisture to the affected areas |
| also been diagnosed. | | | | of skin. One old time method for treating |
| The younger the horse the more likely it is to | | | | Dermatophilosis is swapping the affected are with |
| contractDermatophilosis. | | | | used motor oil (for some reason fresh motor oil does |
| Horse owners that have dealt with cases of | | | | not treat the affected area). Most owners like to |
| Dermatophilosis say that their horses had scabs or | | | | bath theirhorses with antibacterial shampoos. |
| hive like bumps on that measured approximately one | | | | Dermatophilosis is contagious. If you have a horse |
| fourth of an inch across, these hives are typically | | | | that has been affected try to separated it from its |
| easy to peel or rub off. Although these lesion were | | | | pasture mates. Make sure that you keep its |
| most commonly seen covering the horses haunch | | | | grooming supplies separated from other horses. Do |
| area it is not uncommon to see the horse's entire | | | | not use leg wraps, saddle blankets, splint boots, and |
| bodyaffected by Dermatophilosis. | | | | halters on any other horses. If you have to use |
| Many horse owners assume that the rain rot is | | | | equipment on other horses make sure you |
| caused by a fungus. Dermatophilus congolensis is | | | | completely disinfect all the equipment before it |
| interesting because it shares charastics with both | | | | touches the hide of another horse. Keeping |
| fungus's and bacterias. They are wrong. | | | | equipment such as leg wraps and blankets dry will |
| Dermatophilosis is in fact caused by an organism | | | | help prevent a second outbreak of Dermatophilosis. |
| called dermatophilus congolensis. In horses the | | | | Because the skin that has been affected with |
| dermatophilus congolensis works by entering the | | | | Dermatophilosis is hairless it is prone to sunburn. |
| follicle of the horses hairshaft. Once it is in the horses | | | | Rather then swap the bald patches with sunscreen |
| hair shaft it can be seen in the form of a large hive. | | | | which adds moisture to the skin horse owners that |
| When these hives are removed from the skin horse | | | | keep their horses outside should use a fly sheet to |
| owners can easily see several (literally dozens and | | | | protect their horse from UV rays. The blanket should |
| dozens) of hairs embedded in each large lump. | | | | be washed on a regular basis to kill the |
| Because the dermatophilus congolensis damages the | | | | dermatophiluscongolensis. |