Ask Dr. Kaia for July 13, 2005 Q: My neighbor has a horse that is wearing a blanket, and it is 80 degrees outside! Is that ok and why would anyone leave a blanket on a horse in the summertime?
A: That is a good one! Most horses only wear a blanket in the cooler months. Obviously, the horses will be overheated in the summer if he is wearing an ordinary blanket. I would suggest that you ask the owner about this.
It is very likely that you will find out that the blanket is actually a fly sheet or scrim sheet. The fly sheet is made of cloth and keeps flies off the horse and keeps the horse clean, They are intended to be worn on a horse that is turned out in the summer.
A scrim sheet is a mesh sheet similar to a cooler and is intended for a horse that is kept stabled in the summer. Either kind of sheet is fine for a horse to wear in the summer, even if it seems odd to you!
So just ask your neighbor about the blanket and you just might learn something! If you have a lot of flies and mosquitoes, a sheet can help in preventing bites and even West Nile Virus exposure.
Don't forget the blonde, female, Border Collie X Golden Retriever type dog that is looking for a home. Please call if you can provide a good home for her.
Naches Veterinary Services and Cuddles Doggie Salon
Send your questions to:countryclassicsnaches@hotmail.com
Kaia Sorem, DVM
WSU 1984
Veterinary Service
Pet Grooming
Cuddles Doggie Salon
203 Naches Avenue
Naches WA 98937
1-509-653-2108Past Dr. Kaia columns:
July 13, 2005 Horse Blanket in Summer?
July 6, 2005 Protecting Your Dog During Fireworks
June 29, 2005 Testicular Implants
June 22, 2005 Dogs In Cars In Hot Weather
June 15, 2005 Stallion Owners Require Uterine Culture Before Breeding My Mare by Ariticial Insemination
June 8, 2005 Care For Injured Horse While Waiting For Vet
June 1, 2005 Mange
May 25, 2005 Tick Paralysis
May 18, 2005 Dogs' Ears: Smells, Mites, Infections, Foreign Objects
May 11, 2005 Dangers in Horse Falling Over Backwards
May 4, 2005 More Ticks This Year
Apr. 27, 2005 Can the New Snake Bite Vaccine Fail to Save the Dog?
Apr. 20, 2005 Finding a Dog and Searching for Its Owner
Apr. 13, 2005 Microchip ID Tags Implanted in Dogs
Mar. 30 & Repeated on Apr. 6, 2005 A Dog Mauled by Coyotes
Mar. 23, 2005 Why Is My Mare In Heat For Two Weeks
Mar. 16, 2005 Light Winter Brings More Fleas and Ticks
Mar. 9, 2005 Does Early Spring Make Mares Ready to Breed Early?
Mar. 2, 2005 Holistic Medicine
Feb. 23, 2005 Alternative Medicine II- Human Nutritional Supplements for Pets
Feb. 16, 2005 Alternative Medicine
Feb. 9, 2005 How Big Will A Kitten Get?
Feb. 2, 2005 Animals Can Die Unexpectedly During Surgery
Jan. 26, 2005 Horse Colic in Winter Caused by Cold Water
Jan. 19, 2005 Blanket Horses in Winter?
Jan. 12, 2005 New Rattlesnake Vaccine Available
Jan. 5, 2005 Dog Christmas Party and Feeding Bones to Dogs
Dec. 22, 2004 Correct Age for Neutering Dog
Dec. 15, 2004 Dog Bites Are Very Serious In Many Ways
Dec. 8, 2004 Decorations Hazardous to Pets
Dec. 1, 2004 Does a Horse Need a Barn, and How Big?
Nov. 24, 2004 Dogs Scratching Because of Allergies
Nov. 17, 2004 Rescuing Injured Wild Animals
Nov. 10, 2004 Use ALL of Every Antibiotic Prescription
Nov. 3, 2004 Causing Mare to Foal Early Using Light in Stall
Oct. 27, 2004 Horse Rubbing Mane and Tail
Oct. 20, 2004 What is Mangosteen?
Oct. 13, 2004 Will Neutering Stop Male Cat From Spraying?
Oct. 6, 2004 Care of Animals During Volcanic Eruption
Sept. 29, 2004 Dog Scratching Ear and Shaking Head
Sept. 22, 2004 Dog Dementia
Sept. 15, 2004 Treating Dog's Arthritis Can Prolong It's Life
Sept. 8, 2004 Dog Drinking and Urinating More Than Normal: Diabetes
Sept. 1, 2004 Dogs Scratching with Flea Bites
Aug. 25, 2004 Dogs Sore with Arthritis in Hips
Aug. 18, 2004 Dogs Left in Cars in Hot Weather May Be Released by Good Samaritans
Aug. 11, 2004 Microchipping Your Dog
Aug. 4, 2004 Dogs Lose Appetite in Hot Weather
July 28, 2004 Fish Oil for Dogs
July 21, 2004 Dog Bitten by Wild Animal
July 14, 2004 Talking Birds- Some Understand The Words
July 7, 2004 Importance of Ultrasounding Pregnant Mare
June 30, 2004 Cleaning Dogs' Teeth
June 23, 2004 Male Cats Spraying in the House
June 16, 2004 Horse Chiropractors
June 9, 2004 Cats Disappearing in Spring
June 2, 2004 Vaccination to Protect from Snakebite?
May 26, 2004 Older Female Dog Leaking Urine
May 12 & 19, 2004 Having a New Horse Checked and a Dog Who Has Become Dominant and Biting Toward Humans
May 5, 2004 Satellite Veterinary Clinic in Naches
Apr. 28, 2004 May 1 Too Early to Shave a Dog?
Apr. 21, 2004 Ticks Are Especially Bad This Year
Apr. 14, 2004 Breeding a Mare with Transported Semen-- repeat
Apr. 7, 2004 Horse Racing Alive and Well in Kennewick
Mar. 31, 2004 Floating Horses' Teeth
Mar. 24, 2004 Swelling in Horse's Hock Serious?
Mar. 17, 2004 How Long Do Puppy Shots Last?
Mar. 10, 2004 Breeding a Mare with Transported Semen
Mar. 3, 2004 What is Doggie Day Care?
Feb. 25, 2004 Old Dog Uncomfortable, Trouble Getting Up
Feb. 18, 2004 Cat Urinating Blood or Not Urinating
Feb. 11, 2004 High Carbohydrate Hay Content Causing Foundering
Feb. 4, 2004 Cushing's Disease and Metabolic Syndrome
Jan. 28, 2004 Leaving Horses Shod in Winter Causes Sore Feet
Jan. 21, 2004 Feeding Elk in Winter
Jan. 14, 2004 Why So Much Colic At This Time of Year?
Jan. 7, 2004 Mad Cow Disease Threat is Very Serious
Dec. 24, 2003 Warts on Horse's Muzzle
Dec. 17, 2003 Horse with a "Gravel" Lame Foot
Dec. 10, 2003 Dogs Have Fleas in Winter?
Dec. 3, 2003 Cats and Christmas Decorations
Nov. 26, 2003 Pigeon Fever in Horses
Nov. 19, 2003 Dogs with Signs of Lethargy or Intoxication
Nov. 12, 2003 Groom Dog Less in Winter?
Nov. 5, 2003 Dogs Eating From Cat Litter Box
Oct. 29, 2003 Dog Bad Breath
Oct. 22, 2003 Ultrasonic Teeth Cleaning for Dogs
Oct. 15, 2003 Navicular vs. Caudal Heel Syndrome
Oct. 8, 2003 Ambulatory Veterinary Practice
Oct. 1, 2003 Acupuncture for Animals
Sept. 24, 2003 Winter Care for Horses
Sept. 17, 2003 Found Sickly Puppy
Sept. 10, 2003 Horse Not Conditioned Properly
Aug. 27, 2003 Barrel Horse Anxious and Unwilling
Aug. 20, 2003 Cats Get Tumors From Vaccines?
Aug. 13, 2003 Horse Unshod All Year?