Military working animals, along with their human counterparts, play an important role in protecting our nation and U.S. interests worldwide.
From bomb and drug sniffing working dogs to working mules and horses—these animals are crucial to the safety and security on and off the battlefield.
The U.S. Army Veterinary Corps promotes the health, safety, and welfare of all military working animals to maintain mission readiness. The corps also provides care for service members’ pets at veterinary treatment facilities around the globe. The Defense Health Agency Veterinary Services Division supports the Veterinary Corps’ animal health mission by providing policy guidance, support, and coordination with other departments and agencies when needed.
“We accomplish this by providing veterinary public health capabilities through veterinary medical and surgical care, food safety and defense, and biomedical research and development,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Patti Glen, chief of DHA’s veterinary services division. “In addition to the vet corps, officers provide military veterinary expertise in response to natural disasters and other emergencies. We're an integral part of supporting a nation at war. Everything we do ultimately focuses on the warfighter, the soldier, sailor, airmen, and Marines.
Taking Care of Military Working Animals is a Team Effort
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Melissa Hehr, deputy chief of DHA’s veterinary services division, said that military working dogs receive semi-annual physical exams at a minimum, as well as other routine and preventive veterinary care that includes vaccinations, and flea, tick, and heartworm prevention.
She said wellness exams are recommended for personal pets on an annual basis. Consulting a veterinarian is recommended to “determine what vaccinations are most appropriate, given their pet’s location, breed, age, health status, and activities.
“For our working animals, the handlers have a really close relationship with the veterinarian so that they can call them anytime they need to,” said Glen. “There is an Army veterinarian on call 24/7 for our working animals.
Glen noted the summertime can be especially hard on working animals, particularly dogs.
“The working dogs are out there in the heat, and their work is so intense that they must be on work-rest cycles. They need to have plenty of shade. Their coat gives them more insulation, so it's harder to keep them cool. It is important for them to have access to shade, and water to cool down and to drink.”
Even something as common as walking your dog can be dangerous for their health during the warmer months.
“If the concrete is too hot for you to touch,” said Glen, “then it’s too hot for them to walk on. Find some grass to get them off the hot concrete.”
“Another thing for military families to keep in mind is maintaining their pet's rabies vaccinations and rabies titers.” She added this is especially important if a service member is about to move outside of the U.S. Having pet records up to date is vital to prevent delays.