[monica-n-shiloh]

OK guys...Im genuinely stumped and need help pronto.

Andy has these things on his back that looked like large scabs...I thought they were like a fungus. I went to scratch them off and one totally flipped open and inside was FILLED with yellow, gooey, disgusting, thick puss!! I almost threw up right there being that wasnt what I expected to find.
I just found them this morning. He's had his blanket on the past week due to the frigid weather...I just removed it this morning...and found these things. Theres 2 of them...right on his back on the left side. I took pictures best I could but they're a crappy blurry mess. Sorry!!! I was trying to let you guys see what Im talking about.

He also has little dry white spots going down his butt cheeks. Both sides, and some more on his back. They arent puss filled or anything...just look fungusy. Any ideas?!?!? Its not rainrot is it??
How do I treat the 2 puss filled clumps? Diluted betadine? Maybe some icthammol??


Help! Ive never seen anything like this before!

pic 1~ the small dry spots...on his back
pic 2~ the open puss filled thing.
pic 3~ Same thing, closer angle
pic 4~ the big puss things
pic 5~ The white dry things all over his back
pic 6 & 7~ white dry things on his butt

[Blistering Winds]

iodine or betadine ALL Of it. That would be my first step. Yank ALL blankets and wash them, and....hmmm....dunno, calla vet to figure out exactly what is causing this.

[monica-n-shiloh]

Thanks Michelle.... Im gonna treat it tomorrow morning. Didnt want to tonite because I didnt want to until I ran it by my family . I was hoping somebody could go "oh thats ......, you treat it by doing ......" lol.

I dont know how he coulda gotten it from the blanket. He's had it on b4 this winter with nothing like this. Moni wore it b4 him...she never had a fungus.

[julie&chico]

I would soak these scabs with an Betadine solution a gently pick them off and then rinse with the solution again. since there is pus in it make sure that you get it all rinsed off, and leave you blanket off so his coat can breath. give him a really good curry to get all the dandruff and particles off of him it will also stimulate his oils in his coat. as for those white things are they crusty? can they be picked off? and when they do come off is it bald or with hair growing back? I would curry them off and rinse with a betadine solution. ps wash your blanket!!

JC

[monica-n-shiloh]

Julie,

Yea they're pretty crusty and hard. Some I can pick off..some I cant get off without ripping his hair.
Thanks for the help...

[Dawn]

I'd say it's rain rot. I've seen them get pus/sy before. It usually happens when the scabs are ready to come off but can't (for example because a blanket is on and the horse can't rub them off). I would initially treat the open wounds with iodine.

[KellyJean]

Originally Posted by Blistering Winds

iodine or betadine ALL Of it. That would be my first step. Yank ALL blankets and wash them, and....hmmm....dunno, calla vet to figure out exactly what is causing this.

I'll second that. that's exactly what I would do, and what my BO/trainer/non-vet person would suggest.

But, after you call the vet, make sure you come back and tell us what it is.

Kelly

[monica-n-shiloh]

OK Thanks all. Im on my way up now to treat it before work.

I'll keep you all posted....

[Bubba]

Looks exactly like a nasty case of rain rot to me . I'd suggest using Betadine *scrub*, since it's designed to lather up and get good and soapy. Bathe him as best you can, rinse thoroughly, and keep the blanket off of him! Or put a clean (as in, washed) one on him.

Keeping a blanket on for a week straight can cause a lot of heat and moisture to build up underneath...perfect environment for fungus and rain rot, I'm afraid . The pus is a result of the larger scabs coming loose. The smaller ones running down his hindquarters may not get pus-y.

I would also groom him every day, at least once a day, and clean your brushes afterward, every day, with Betadine solution or scrub (or any antifungal treatment). If you do blanket him again, make sure to take the blanket off at least once a day, let him "breathe", and give him a throrough grooming each time, as well, to help aerate his skin and fur ecery day, not giving any fungus a chance to get a good hold . Good luck! I hope it clears up soon!

[wyldterv]

I agree, classic rain rott and it is very common to form under blankets, especially if the blanket got wet enough to get a bit damp underneath

Betadine Scrub is a classic well proven technique... I'm going to throw a few other things I've used with good sucess... I like to use Hibecleanse scrub over Betadine, It has a wider microbial/dissenfective quality. Does cost more $$ but I really like it better. I like to use the Hibelceanse scrub, then rinse really well with a 50% water, 50% listerene solution... work the scabbing off during this process, rubber curry comb is a great tool for this or even better one of those jelly scrubber! I let the area air dry, then apply Jock itch cream which is antifungal! To the ***** areas though I'd apply an antibiotic cream since puss means you've got a bacterial issue. I use triple antibiotic cream mixed with Furazone cream (I mix them together 50/50 myself) and have found that to work really well.

Another good anti fungal/anti bacterial fighter with healing properties is tea tree oil.