RESUMEN
This document is a resource for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) treating an injured law enforcement K9 (LEK9) in the field and/or during transport by ambulance to a veterinary hospital. A Joint Task Force on Working Dog Care was created, which included veterinarians, EMS directors, EMS physicians, and canine handlers, who met to develop a treatment protocol for injured LEK9s. The protocol covers many major life-threatening injuries that LEK9s may sustain in the line of duty, and also discusses personnel safety and necessary equipment. This protocol may help train EMS providers to save the life of an injured LEK9.
Asunto(s)
Perros/lesiones , Servicios Médicos de Urgencia/normas , Guías como Asunto , Transportes/legislación & jurisprudencia , Heridas y Lesiones/terapia , Animales , Hospitales Veterinarios/estadística & datos numéricos , Humanos , Illinois , Aplicación de la Ley , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
Three working dogs were diagnosed with noise-induced hearing loss following exposure to loud noise. Physical and neurologic examinations in each case revealed no significant findings. Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) demonstrated bilateral sensorineural deafness. One dog did not regain hearing but continued working with adjusted protocols utilizing hand signals. One dog was lost to follow-up. The last dog was treated with oral Vitamin B complex (daily), Vitamin E (400 IU daily), and N-acetyl-cystine (600 mg daily) and regained hearing 2 months later, based on repeat BAER testing.