FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. – Handlers and canines from the 483rd Military Working Dog (MWD) Detachment visited the Veterinary Clinic for complete health checks and oral health evaluations on Nov. 16.
Sgt. Veronica Mendez, MWD handler, took her partner, Ket, a German Shepherd explosive detection MWD, for a scheduled health check and an emergency dental procedure.
“All military working dogs get bi-annual [health] exams including vital signs, bloodwork, dental checkup and cleaning,” said Capt. Danielle Goering, military veterinarian.
Goering, along with animal care specialists Spc. Nicholas Slater and Staff Sgt. Dominick Grilli, scheduled Ket first on the roster to assess and extract a tooth fractured during training.
A complete oral health evaluation for the MWD involves charting missing teeth; probing the teeth and gumline; x-raying the teeth and roots; extracting any diseased teeth and tissue; and cleaning, scaling and polishing the healthy teeth.
These mandatory health checks also serve as opportunities for MWD handlers to train on tactical field care for their canines, Grilli explained.
“The [MWD] handler will be doing the intubation, catheter insertion, administering and monitoring anesthesia,” he said.
“Step one is administering anesthesia and announcing the time to your team,” Grilli emphasized to Mendez as he pointed out two locations for an intermuscular shot of anesthesia. After administering the anesthesia, Mendez led Ket into the x-ray room for a quick x-ray before the sedative began to take effect.
After moving to the operating room, Grilli supervised Mendez applying a catheter to Ket’s front leg. The catheter is attached to an advanced anesthetic delivery machine for the remainder of the procedure.
Grilli showed Mendez how to measure a tube for Ket’s endotracheal intubation. The tube extends from the oral cavity into the trachea ensuring an open airway to administer oxygen and provide ventilatory support in unconscious animals.
“I learned how to mix medications in syringes and administer them through the catheter,” Mendez said reflecting on her time in the clinic with Ket. “I was comfortable with the intubation and inserting the catheter since we practice on the models often.”
The Veterinary Clinic utilizes a 50-pound Belgium Malinois mannequin, a K9 HERO Medical Trainer produced by TACMED Solutions. Hero breathes, bleeds, comes with various injury attachments to exercise treatments.
Hero, the MWD mannequin, is a critical training asset offers real-world scenario practices essential to MWD handlers, veterinarians, combat medics, surgeons and anesthesiologists.
While on the operating table, the veterinary team closely monitored a pulse oximeter and electrocardiogram for Ket’s heart rate, body temperature and blood oxygen levels.
“Captain Goering and Staff Sergeant Grilli were helpful with the entire process of instructing me on the correct methods [of canine care],” Mendez added.
Goerning successfully completed the extraction of Ket’s damaged tooth.
The Fort Huachuca Veterinary Clinic has the primary mission of providing complete veterinary care for all government-owned animals and offers routine care services for the pets of military families.
# # #
Fort Huachuca is home to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, the U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM)/9th Army Signal Command and more than 48 supported tenants representing a diverse, multiservice population. Our unique environment encompasses 946 square miles of restricted airspace and 2,500 square miles of protected electronic ranges, key components to the national defense mission.
Located in Cochise County, in southeast Arizona, about 15 miles north of the border with Mexico, Fort Huachuca is an Army installation with a rich frontier history. Established in 1877, the Fort was declared a national landmark in 1976.
We are the Army’s Home. Learn more at https://home.army.mil/huachuca/.
Social Sharing