text: Chapter 6
  Table 6-2. Primary tasks and purposes of veterinary services treatment
  Primary task Purpose
  Maintenance of health to optimize working dog detection and patrol capability
  Provide preventive care
  to detect threats to Service members.
  Treatment of routine DNBI and noncombat related emergencies as close to
  Conduct sick call
  the working dog’s unit as possible to minimize lost working days.
  Perform K9 tactical combat Provision of lifesaving stabilization and care as close to the working dog’s
  casualty care point of injury as possible to maximize survival rates.
  Perform resuscitation and
  Provision of resuscitative surgical care on an area support basis to maximize
  emergency surgical
  survival rates.
  stabilization
  Provision of short-term hospitalization capability (not to exceed 72 hours) for
  Provide hospitalization
  military and contract working dogs requiring direct veterinary care to reduce
  services
  medical evacuation and maximize return to duty rates.
  In order to maximize survival rates of working dogs during medical
  evacuation to higher roles of care, veterinary personnel may be required to
  Support medical evacuation
  augment standard medical personnel and be allowed access to working dog
  patients en route.
  VETERINARY ROLE 1 MEDICAL CARE
  6-9. This role of veterinary medical care is provided by the animal’s handler and the animal care specialist.
  ANIMAL HANDLER
  6-10. Non-veterinary personnel, such as MWD, equestrian, livestock, and/or USN marine mammal handlers
  perform limited lifesaving and first aid procedures until an animal care specialist or a veterinarian is available.
  This paragraph details handler-provided capabilities for MWDs since they are most likely to be encountered
  within the AHS. Qualified MWD handlers from all Services provide emergency medical care to their dogs
  in three specific areas of concentration: K9TCCC, noncombat emergency care, and preventive medical care.
  Tasks reflect current practices based on experience with MWDs injured in combat operations. Tasks reflect
  the most current scope of practice for medical care of MWDs by handlers, and focus on tasks that are most
  critical to preservation of life, limb, and eyesight of working dogs. Handlers are trained to provide the most
  effective immediate care to prevent further injury, reduce effects of trauma and illness, and stabilize the
  patient while coordinating rapid evacuation. In conjunction with the tasks and training focus, each handler
  has a MWD Handler First Aid Set, which is compartmentalized to ensure the exact medical supplies needed
  to perform every task are available. Following appropriate emergency veterinary medical training provided
  by a veterinarian, a MWD handler has the following capabilities:
  * Perform rapid evaluation of a MWD and application of a muzzle for safety.
  * Provide immediate control of hemorrhage.
  * Manage the airway (airway obstruction, tracheal intubation, surgical tracheostomy).
  * Manage breathing (airway obstruction, open chest wound and tension/closed pneumothorax).
  * Manage circulation via intravenous access and fluid resuscitation for shock.
  * Prevent and manage hypothermia.
  * Bandage open wounds including abdominal wounds.
  * Manage heat trauma.
  * Manage eye trauma or irritation.
  * Provide analgesia.
  * Initiate infection control (wound lavage, antibiotic therapy).
  * Manage burn injuries or wound.
  * Splint distal extremity fracture.