As with any family pet, police dogs need routine physical exams, annual vaccinations, parasite detection and control. Police dogs may also have an occasional problem such as urinary tract infections, foxtails in their nose or ears, skin allergies or infections, and an occasional cut or scrape, etc. These minor issues also require veterinary care just like your family pet. Some agencies have only one or two police dogs. However the cost for routine annual veterinary care or addressing minor issues becomes significant if a department has several service dogs.
Police dogs are naturally subject to more than routine minor issues. Much like competitive athletes,
police dog training is strenuous and takes place on a regular basis to keep them at the top of their game. It is not unusual to occasionally
experience a strain or sprain causing discomfort. This lameness needs to be evaluated and appropriately treated as soon as it occurs
in order for these dogs to work at their best.
The NPDF also works to educate
the handlers in many aspects of caring for their dogs. The foundation helps them to recognize signs of medical emergencies such as
boat, snakebite, accidental narcotic ingestion and many others. The NPDF also helps handlers locate the nearest veterinary emergency
hospitals as well as network with general practitioners who take after-hours emergency calls. When veterinary services are provided
at no cost (or significantly discounted), many problems are dealt with before they become serious or life threatening.
The NPDF also
helps provide veterinary care for retired police dogs. These dogs have given invaluable service to their departments and our communities
risking serious injury on a daily basis. The foundation seeks to honor that effort and service by making sure that these retirees
have health and comfort in their later years. The generosity of our partner veterinarians and your donations is what makes this possible.
If
you are a practicing veterinarian and are interested in partnering with the foundation, please contact the NPDF through this web site
for more information. If you have a primary care veterinarian for your pet that you think may be interested in helping the NPDF, please
forward this web site or invite them to contact us. We invite private practitioners, general and specialty, to join in with the NPDF
to provide much needed and genuinely appreciated veterinary care to police dogs nationwide. We also invite the individuals, foundations,
and corporations to partner with us in providing this necessary care for America’s amazing K-9 cops.
NPDF Veterinary Partners:
Chris
Frier, DVM
Jeannette da Silva Curiel, DVM, DACVO
Bonnie Werner, DVM, DACVIM
Lee Jane Huffman, DVM, DAVDC
J. Burner, DVM
Eric Wright, DVM
Ron
Dalzell, DVM
Tim Crowe, DVM, DACVS, DACVECC, FCCM
Cheryl Braswell, DVM
Terry Wood, DVM
Doug Rohn, DVM, DACVS
The National Police Dog Foundation would like to express their sincere appreciation for the generosity of their veterinary partners. These general practitioners and specialists discount or donate their time, talents and resources to care for police dogs nationwide. In light of the fact that most police departments do not have line items in their budget to provide extensive medical care nor the financial ability to meet significant emergency needs, the compassion of the veterinary community in providing for these service dogs is irreplaceable, as well as the generosity of the public.
In their line of work, just like any police officer, these dogs are always at risk for serious injury. This risk is ever present and always a real possibility because of their many uses of deployment. If a police dog is seriously injured and the department does not have the ability to provide extensive medical care, a valuable police dog may be forced to retire early. The NPDF, in partnering with veterinarians nationwide, can make the difference in a police dog recovering to active duty from a serious injury or illness. Helping these dogs to fully recover, continue working and making a difference in our communities is a top priority of the foundation.
