Capt. Leah Tingley (right) Vilseck Branch Veterinary Services checks the vital signs of her patient, Max, as his owner, Kelley Cunningham looks on. Max was brought to the Vilseck Veterinary Treatment Facility for preventative treatment of dysplasia, ...
VILSECK, Germany - Max, a 6-year-old Labrador retriever, sat patiently under his owner Kelley Cunningham's legs as they waited for his name to be called at the Vilseck Veterinary Treatment Facility, Jan. 11.
Resting his head on his paws, he howled, summoning "pets" from passersby.
"He's a gentle soul," said Cunningham, smiling as she patted the blonde hair on Max's head.
Max's good health has been maintained through routine check-ups. For this visit, Cunningham brought him to the VTF for preventative treatment of dysplasia, an ailment common in his breed.
"He's been limping a bit ... I just want to make sure he's alright," said Cunningham. "He's my baby."
Though coincidental, Cunningham's preventative actions for her pet are on par with a recent standard set by the U.S. Army Europe Regional Veterinary Command. The new program, initiated Jan. 15, outlines veterinary services like basic deworming, microchipping, fecal floatation and vaccinations, and groups them into an overall "wellness package."
"A wellness package will provide comprehensive preventive medical care that is tailored to your pet's specific needs and stage of life," said Maj. Rebecca Evans, chief of the Veterinary Command's Future Operations, in a news release.
The intent is to emphasize routine wellness examinations and interaction with a veterinary health care professional instead of vaccinations as the reason for a visit to the veterinary clinic.
"VETCOM will embrace this effort to provide the best care to our patients and support to our clients through comprehensive disease prevention, early diagnosis of any problems and appropriate treatment," said Col. David Rolfe, commander of VETCOM, in a news release.
The standardization of these services will parallel the veterinary profession's move toward wellness, promote public health and provide consistency in veterinary care, regardless of military station. Fee schedules will be restructured, but the goal continues to be high quality care at the lowest cost. Fees will be the same for all clients and at all military veterinary treatment facilities.
"We present the wellness package ... and provide recommendations based on our judgments as doctors and what we feel is right for each patient," said Capt. Renee Krebs, officer in charge, Vilseck Branch Veterinary Services. "But in the end, the owners have the final choice in the care of their pets."
Services provided at the VTF include, but are not limited to, health certificates, out-patient surgical and dental procedures, X-ray diagnostics, ECG diagnostics and routine laboratory testing to include blood, serum, urine and fecal assessments. Additionally, the VTF offers information regarding various veterinarians and clinics on the economy to give patients options and ensure their pet's safety.
"We provide numerous services, but are limited when it comes to emergency care," said Krebs. "We are not at this time able to stay open 24 hours, and for that reason we have a list of off-post veterinarians available to the community that speak English and can help in these situations."
Krebs urged the community to be responsible pet owners by educating themselves on pet care, stating the recently instituted wellness package and the VTF can help.
"Their lives are so much shorter than ours," said Krebs. "We need to protect them."
In an age of constant change, especially within the military community, many family members place increasing importance on the role of pets in their lives. Ensuring a pet is happy and healthy can provide a safe and rewarding environment for every member of the household.
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