http://www.askthevetblog.com/home/Dr. Lydia Gray speaks to horse health and nutrition.Copyright SmartPak, LLC. 2007en-USSquarespace Site Server v4.1.2 (http://www.squarespace.com/)Erika MeshSat, 19 Apr 2008 23:29:37 +0000http://www.askthevetblog.com/home/2007/10/16/rain-rot-and-horses-what-to-do.html#comments156164:1454156:comment/1435723
A few years ago I went through a horrible bout of rain rot with my TB gelding. It turned out that he had some parasites (which the 5 day Panacur PowerPak did wonders for) and that combined with slightly low selenium levels had his immune system very low.

He dropped weight and his skin and coat were in very poor condition and made him prone to rain rot. In the end, putting him on Accel Lifetime for the basic multi-vitamins plus probiotics did wonders for his immune system and I now get compliments on how great his coat is.

For treating the rain rot at the time (for for small bouts of scratches during mud season since then), this is going to sound a bit odd, but Infusium-23 leave-in hair conditioner worked miracles on him. (Beauty supply stores usually have a cheap, generic version that works too.) It's non-greasy and because it seems to work based on general health of the hair/scalp, it helped his general skin condition improved and he fought off the rain rot on his own (as long as I kept the area clean).

:)]]>Susan MillerSchieldsSat, 01 Mar 2008 04:30:19 +0000http://www.askthevetblog.com/home/2008/2/8/clicking-joints.html#comments156164:1454156:comment/1329149thanks]]>Deborah LeibbrandtThu, 28 Feb 2008 17:23:48 +0000http://www.askthevetblog.com/home/2008/2/26/trimming-chestnuts-on-horse-legs.html#comments156164:1454156:comment/1325641Susan MillerSchieldsWed, 09 Jan 2008 23:34:34 +0000http://www.askthevetblog.com/home/2007/10/25/hay-shortage-what-options-are-there.html#comments156164:1454156:comment/12164481. County agricultural extension agents often keep a list of hay producers, especially those whose hay has has been analyzed for protein and nutrient content.
2. Internet searches for 'hay' or 'hay for horses' worked for us during a 2-year drought; there were several sites with numerous hay-sellers listed.

(the shipping cost of the hay can get substantial as everyone affected by the drought brings in hay from further and further away; fuel costs are a fact of life).]]>Susan MillerSchieldsWed, 09 Jan 2008 23:25:03 +0000http://www.askthevetblog.com/home/2007/12/14/heaves-in-horses-what-to-do.html#comments156164:1454156:comment/12164331. allergy testing and hyposensitization (by your veterinarian or a veterinary allergy/dermatology specialist)
2. prescription antihistamine (my horse's symptoms weren't helped by over the counter antihistamines and got worse each summer, but the prescription type has been very effective)]]>Amanda SolnerTue, 08 Jan 2008 19:19:07 +0000http://www.askthevetblog.com/home/2007/12/14/heaves-in-horses-what-to-do.html#comments156164:1454156:comment/1209824Arlene SchulerMon, 07 Jan 2008 18:58:27 +0000http://www.askthevetblog.com/home/2007/12/14/heaves-in-horses-what-to-do.html#comments156164:1454156:comment/1207763Nancy MiezinWed, 26 Dec 2007 22:40:59 +0000http://www.askthevetblog.com/home/2007/12/14/is-water-softener-salt-ok-for-horses.html#comments156164:1454156:comment/1190486Lynne ReineckeTue, 11 Dec 2007 14:46:11 +0000http://www.askthevetblog.com/home/2007/8/30/jack-jenny-and-flaky-hoof-syndrome.html#comments156164:1454156:comment/1168029ELLEN LACINAWed, 07 Nov 2007 17:41:45 +0000http://www.askthevetblog.com/home/2007/10/16/how-do-i-get-rid-of-these-nasty-hives-on-my-horse.html#comments156164:1454156:comment/1107144
It could be the barn you are at. ]]>