What should I do if my horse has a rash after shampooing? | arlo.® Atlas

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

If your horse has a rash after shampooing, stop using that product for now and rinse the coat well with clean water. In many cases it’s a mild skin reaction, leftover shampoo, or irritation from scrubbing rather than anything more serious, but it’s worth checking the skin carefully before you bathe again.

Things To Check

1. Check where the rash has appeared and whether it matches the areas where shampoo was applied most heavily.

2. Look for redness, small bumps, hives, scabs, swelling, broken skin or any wet discharge.

3. Think about whether the shampoo was left on too long or not rinsed out thoroughly enough.

4. Consider whether anything else was different, such as hot weather, heavy sweating, clipping, rugging or extra grooming.

5. Check if your horse has reacted to a similar shampoo before, or if this is the first time using a new product.

6. Make sure the skin felt normal before bathing and wasn't already irritated, sore or rubbed.

7. Watch whether your horse is itchy, uneasy to touch, or rubbing the area after washing.

8. If the rash is spreading, getting hotter, or not settling, keep a close note of how quickly it's changing.

Common Causes

The most common cause is skin sensitivity to a shampoo ingredient, especially in horses with reactive or delicate skin.

Another common reason is shampoo residue left in the coat or mane, particularly if rinsing was rushed or the coat is thick.

Sometimes the issue is mechanical irritation from vigorous scrubbing, clipping, or bathing skin that was already dry or mildly sore.

Less commonly, the rash may be linked to an underlying skin problem that became more obvious after washing, such as an allergy or an insect-related skin issue.

What To Do

Rinse the area again with plenty of clean, lukewarm water if your horse will tolerate it, then leave the skin dry and clean.

Don't use the same shampoo again until you've identified whether it was the likely trigger.

Avoid picking at scabs or rubbing the area hard, as that can make irritation worse.

Keep an eye on whether the rash improves over the next day or two, and note any change in size, heat or itching.

When you next bathe, consider patch-testing a new shampoo on a small area first and choosing a product designed for sensitive or frequently washed coats.

If the coat is dirty but the skin is reacting, it may be better to delay bathing until the skin has settled and just keep the area clean and dry in the meantime.

Products That May Help

If your horse is prone to skin sensitivity or you want to be more careful about bath-time routine, this collection may be useful when choosing wash products for coat care.

Shampoos & Washes

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