Most of us know that rain causes that "wet-dog" smell. We also know that it causes sever matting in our dogs coats. Which can be painful to de-mat and very expensive. It can even get to the point where your dog may have to be shaved down to get tight mats out .that are too close to the skin. Improper removal of this type of matting can cause injury to dog if not removed by a vet and/or professional groomer. Most of us are unaware that it can also cause a skin irritation called "rain scald" or "rain rot".
"Rain scald" is actually an organism (dermatophilus congolensis) it is not a fungus. It is an actinomycetes that behaves like both a bacteria and a fungi. This is caused by warm, damp conditions where high temperature and humidity exist. It is not a life-threatening condition, but can make your pet very miserable, run a high fever and possible even have open sores.
At home you can wash your short coated dog with a 10% Betadine or Vetadine soap wash. It is best to have your dog professionally groomed where they can be washed with a medicated shampoo and dried thoroughly to the skin. After this process you want to continue to monitor your pets skin and keep them clean and dry.
see: article by Telesis Equiderma Skin products: jrdesignwork.com
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