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Military Working Dogs and Their Medical Needs

As four-legged warfighters, military working dogs are protected to best serve their country. Courtesy photo from the U.S. Army

Unlike most privately owned household pets, military working dogs (MWD) lead a more athletic lifestyle. This is why the Army Veterinary Services places an emphasis on preventative care to ensure the health of MWDs.

Currently, the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command’s Medical Material Development Activity (USAMMDA) is working on a family of blood products to support MWDs.

“The canine trauma study for canine freeze-dried platelets is still ongoing,” said subject matter experts Lt. Col. Jodi Sangster, chief of animal medicine at Defense Health Agency Veterinary Service, and Lindsey S. Garver, Warfighter Protection and Acute Care Product Management Office, U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity, U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command. “We are currently working on a contract action for the canine oxygen carrier.”

Military working dogs are essential to national security. Courtesy photo from the U.S. Army

Additionally, MWD activities require a higher need for musculoskeletal care, according to Col. Gregory Laughlin, director of Army Veterinary Services.

A recently launched MWD Trauma Registry allows services to gather accurate and reliable data on trauma and medical conditions. The initiative, Col. Sangster says, helps optimize the future of the veterinary medical posture, “provide the best evidence-based care possible and ensure return to duty of these essential warfighters.”