Thanks rach...

whoops was using a metal one will swap to a plastic - will try put it straight on

I keep mine in a plastic container on the bench, with a lid to keep the flies etc out LOL.

I just realised - keep mine in a jar with a metal lid will this matter?

Also I wanted to say that my pussy cats skin has nearly completed clear up .... I dont know if its the HC but its the only thing thats really changed in her diet etc...

nope won't matter if the metal isn't touching it

Good to hear about the pussy cat! My bull mastiff boy used to get HORRIBLE wet eczema, never had a problem with it since he's been on this stuff

@KARaz: Does that stuff work for rain rot as well?

Rain rot is an interesting infection. Its one of the few horse diseases out there that is going to bother you more than your horse!

The only painful part of the disease for your horse is when you remove the scabs. The actual infection itself doesn't cause your horse any pain or irritation -- not even any itchiness.

Which is amazing, because just looking at it makes me itchy!
Rain scald.

This disease is also known by a few other names, including:

* dew poisoning (when its on the legs)
* rain scald
* streptithricosis
* mud fever[color:#3366FF][/color]

rain scald is found in a copper deficient host.

Easiest way to clear it up is a wash in a 30% copper sulphate solution, and put 1tsp of copper sulphate in their feeds daily for 3-4 days (dissolve the bluestone in water obviously)

Once you get it cleared up, then yes, feeding something like seaweed meal or Himalayan Crystal Salt is generally enough to keep their copper levels up (free feeding it obviously)

I used to wash the bullmastiff in the copper sulphate solution too at first sign of his rain scald type eczema (except his would progress to huge open weeping sores within 12 hours of him getting wet, so a little worse than the horses rain scald they generally get)

Unfortunately we don't usually have 2 troughs available to horses but with dogs it's easy to have 2 lots of water out for them and put a copper pipe in one lot. They'll drink it when they need it (haven't done this for mine they get the salt LOL)

Fascinating if that is true?!?!?!?! A horse I have has some bad scarring across the top of his rump which is apparently caused by infected Rain Scald.

aww so cool

Just got a new bag of KA's salts from Rangiora Saddlery for myself. I ran out and started to get leg cramps again this weekend!!!!

cool

Hope they bother to get hold of me when they run out now it's new owners!