Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Hospital of Wichita had the privilege of delivering a special educational seminar to the Kansas Police Dog Association, an organization that represents law enforcement from across the State of Kansas. Their training focuses on patrol, detection, tracking/trailing, and search and rescue. The KPDA aims provide top quality training for K-9 teams including an annual five-day certification. This year more than 37 full-time K-9 handers attended the certification course in Independence, KS.
Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Hospital of Wichita has a strong commitment to the community, including the K-9 teams who serve and protect. Several of our talented doctors and technicians volunteered to educate the handlers on emergency health and safety issues that are common in the police dog line of work.
Dr. Holly Smith began with a discussion on recognizing pain, which can hinder a working dogs ability to perform. Veterinary technician, Sophie Snow, explained basic anatomy, structure, and function of the heart along with canine CPR and essential life support techniques. Shannon Jacobs provided officers with quick reference emergency contacts, vital signs and instructions for treating common working K-9 injuries. The session ended with Dr. Douglas Winter, a specialist in dentistry and oral surgery. He stressed the importance of proper oral health in working K-9’s, whose bite work is an essential job function. He offered preventative care information and even performed a couple of consultations.
An open floor Q&A session allowed officers to receive quality feedback regarding specific “what if” scenarios they may encounter in the field. We hope to continue to provide educational services to working canines throughout the area. For more information on educational opportunities, please contact us!
