How to Treat Skin Fungus on a Horse

Skin fungus, better known as rain rot, comes from damp weather conditions, longer hair on a horse and sometimes a lack of grooming. Some cases are easier to treat than others. Rain rot will be bumpy nodules of build up under the horse's hair. Skin fungus can become infected and need treatment from a veterinarian. Below are some simple steps to take before calling a vet.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Iodine shampoo
• Clean curry comb
• Clippers
• Bleach
• Spray bottle

1. Check how bad the fungus is. Take your finger and scrape a few spots off of your horse. If the clumps easily come off without taking skin, you have caught it at a very easy stage. When flesh is exposed it is a more serious form of fungus.
2. Bathe your horse with iodine shampoo. Scrub the infected areas, trying to loosen up the nodules of fungus. Use the curry comb to scrub, but realize that your horse will become sensitive as you work on their skin. Go slow and be careful to not cause too much pain.
3. Scrape the horse off and dry them off with a towel as good as possible.
4. If you notice any areas that are really infected and the hair is especially long around these spots, use clippers to clip away the fur making it easier for you to work with the skin.
5. Mix 1 or 2 caps of bleach with water in a spray bottle depending on the size of the spray bottle. Take this bleach water and spray it on the infected areas. The point is to dry out the areas as much as possible.
6. Treat the horse's fungus at least once a day and keep the horse as dry as possible. Once you notice the fungus is flaking away and healing, then you can start to moisturize the skin using products such as Udder Butter. If you notice the fungus does not clear up and spreads, call your veterinarian for further assistance.

Tips & Warnings

• Fungus generally does not grow in dry areas.
• There are a few other home remedies to dry out fungus. Give them a try as well. You might find something that works better for you.
• Removing the fungus can be painful to your horse. Take this into consideration when you are treating them and realize that they might retaliate. Patience is key.