MWD handlers receive vet training

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Delia Marchick
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Malmstrom military working dog handlers recently received training from a veterinary team during a quarterly visit.

The team traveled from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, to perform physicals and dental work on the military working dogs.

Part of the quarterly visits include training the handlers on mission essential tasks from recognizing signs of heat and cold injuries to treating stings and venomous bites.

“We received refresher training on how to obtain vital signs and we also went over heat injuries,” said Senior Airman Glenn Holden 341st Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler.

In addition to the refresher training, the veterinary team coached the handlers on passing endotracheal tubes to maintain the airway and inserting IV catheters while the veterinary technicians stood by to take over, if necessary.

The veterinary training that military working dog handlers receive is just as important as the training military members receive on self-aid and buddy care.

“The deployed mission of our handlers often take them to austere environments so they have got to be able to triage and administer first aid to keep the military working dog alive long enough to be air-lifted to the nearest veterinary personnel,” said Melanie Swartz, Army veterinarian, Public Health Command stationed out of Hill AFB.

Along with knowing how to treat MWDs with first aid, preventative care is also important.

MWD dental care is the same type of procedure that military members receive except the dogs are put under anesthesia.

“We have a lot of sharp instruments and we have to get under the gum line, so we have to anesthetize the dogs so we can do it safely for both the dog and the person doing the dental prophylaxis," said Swartz.

The handlers assisted with the dental and anesthesia preparation, stayed during the dental procedure and then helped their dogs wake up and start moving around.

“The training we received today taught us what to look out for and how to treat it,” said Holden. “I love my dog and since we will be the ones responsible for administering treatment in a deployed environment this is good practice."