The Role and Medical Management of Military Working Dogs in Combat

Military working dogs (MWDs) are utilized in substantial and increasing numbers in current military operations, and play a vital role in both protecting human lives and supporting military objectives. MWDs are trained to perform a variety of important roles such as explosive, mine and narcotic detection, patrol/attack work and are even a component of therapy for Servicemembers with combat and operational stress. Similar to the human Servicemembers they serve, MWDs are susceptible to both combat and non-combat related injuries in the operational environment. MWDs are vital and life-saving assets to current military operations and they may incur severe injuries in performing their duty. Providing advanced medical and surgical care for MWDs in an austere environment is challenging and requires a creative “One Health” approach, with substantial collaboration across veterinary and human echelons of medical care. Veterinary units rely heavily upon the human hospitals for equipment and material support. The MWDs routinely receive advanced care on multiple continents, from multiple providers of various disciplines, to restore them to health and hopefully either a return to duty, or retirement and adoption.