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Lagutchik M, Baker J, Balser J, Burghardt W, Enroth M, Flournoy S, Giles J, Grimm P, Hiniker J, Johnson J, Mann K, Takara M, Thomas T. Trauma Management of Military Working Dogs. Mil Med 2019; 183:180-189. [PMID: 30189081 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usy119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There are about 2,500 war and military service dogs in service, with about 700 serving at any given time overseas. Military Working Dogs (MWDs) are critical assets for military police, special operations units, and others operating in today's combat environment. The expectation, given the significant combat multiplier impact of these dogs and the intense bond between the handler and dog, is that injured working dogs will receive the same level of care as any injured U.S. military personnel. Veterinary care is available at multiple locations throughout theater, and the veterinary healthcare team is the MWD's primary provider. Yet, human healthcare providers (HCPs) may be the only medical personnel available to MWDs that are gravely ill or injured. As most HCPs are unfamiliar with medical care of dogs, the Joint Trauma System published a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG), a set of detailed clinical guidelines for managing life-threatening problems of MWDs encountered in combat operations. The CPG is available at the JTS website. This article is covers the most common urgent MWD care challenges HCPs may face.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Lagutchik
- Joint Trauma System, 3698 Chambers Pass, Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, TX
| | - Janice Baker
- Joint Trauma System, 3698 Chambers Pass, Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, TX
| | - John Balser
- Joint Trauma System, 3698 Chambers Pass, Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, TX
| | - Walter Burghardt
- Joint Trauma System, 3698 Chambers Pass, Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, TX
| | - Matthew Enroth
- Joint Trauma System, 3698 Chambers Pass, Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, TX
| | - Shannon Flournoy
- Joint Trauma System, 3698 Chambers Pass, Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, TX
| | - James Giles
- Joint Trauma System, 3698 Chambers Pass, Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, TX
| | - Patrick Grimm
- Joint Trauma System, 3698 Chambers Pass, Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, TX
| | - Jennifer Hiniker
- Joint Trauma System, 3698 Chambers Pass, Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, TX
| | - Jacob Johnson
- Joint Trauma System, 3698 Chambers Pass, Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, TX
| | - Kelly Mann
- Joint Trauma System, 3698 Chambers Pass, Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, TX
| | - Matt Takara
- Joint Trauma System, 3698 Chambers Pass, Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, TX
| | - Todd Thomas
- Joint Trauma System, 3698 Chambers Pass, Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, TX
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