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266.e2 Disaster Working Dog Management and Health

Disaster Working Dog Management and Health Client Education
Sheet
VetBooks.ir Clinical Presentation

BASIC INFORMATION
DISEASE FORMS/SUBTYPES • Lacrimators: oleoresin capsicum (pepper
malono-
o-chlorobenzylidene
spray),
Definition Environmental concerns, foot problems, trauma, nitrile, 1-chloroacetophenone (Mace),
Working dogs are highly trained for a specific explosives, toxins, lacrimators, pharmaceuticals dibenzoxazepine
task or tasks by an individual or organization and illicit drugs, weapons of mass destruction • Illicit/legal drugs/supplements: marijuana,
for the purpose of assistance in a disaster, (biological, chemical, radiologic) cocaine, amphetamines, opiates (especially
emergency, or disaster prevention. The nature fentanyl-laced heroin), phencyclidine, prescrip-
of their work exposes them to environmental HISTORY, CHIEF COMPLAINT tion medications, over-the-counter medica-
and physical risks less commonly encountered • Known exposure tions; herbal preparations and supplements
by pet dogs. • Inability to work or perform task • Routes of exposure: dermal, inhalation,
• General signs of illness, including vocalizing, ocular, or ingestion
Synonyms hypersalivation, lameness, ocular signs, nasal
Accelerant-detection dog, bomb sniffer, discharge, sneezing, diarrhea, vomiting, poor DIAGNOSIS
drug-detection dog, search and rescue dog or no appetite, manifestations of anaphylaxis,
(Urban Search and Rescue [USAR]), cadaver ataxia, depression, hyperactivity, cough, Diagnostic Overview
dog, dual-purpose dog (patrol and detection), weakness, petechiae, hemorrhage, collapse, The diagnosis is based on the handler’s chief
explosives-detection dog, military working dog central nervous system changes, muscle complaint, signs exhibited by the dog, and
(MWD), patrol dog, guard dog tremors, polyuria/polydipsia, seizure, coma possible or known risk factors in the working
environment. Consider storing pre-exposure
Epidemiology PHYSICAL EXAM FINDINGS serum/blood from working dogs for comparison.
SPECIES, AGE, SEX • Varies, based on cause
Primarily young adult male dogs (2-8 years old) • Most common abnormalities include Differential Diagnosis
dehydration, exhaustion, and ocular and Varies with presentation, history, and physical
GENETICS, BREED PREDISPOSITION paw disorders. exam
German shepherd, Labrador retriever, Belgian • Signs of toxin exposure may include cough-
Malinois, other breeds or crossbreeds ing, choking, or gasping for air; red eyes Initial Database
and gums; tearing or salivation; miotic or • CBC, serum biochemistry profile, urinalysis:
RISK FACTORS mydriatic pupils; nausea, ptyalism, emesis, common abnormalities include azotemia
• Physical safety of working and training or diarrhea (+/− hemorrhagic); fatigue; plus isosthenuria (toxins), hepatopathy
environment, risk of exposure, environmental disorientation, muscle twitching, seizures, (toxins, trauma), thrombocytopenia and
conditions paralysis, involuntary urination, or defeca- coagulopathy (heat stroke), calcium oxalate
• Specific risk factors include long hours; stress- tion; collapse. monohydrate crystalluria (ethylene glycol),
ful environment; oral, dermal, and respiratory • Opioid exposure: ataxia, vomiting, miotic cylindruria/urinary casts (renal trauma/toxin/
exposure to toxins; hazardous footing; work pupils, sedation, bradycardia, bradypnea, heat stroke).
low to the ground and in inaccessible areas, coma, respiratory arrest • Lactate (shock, acute abdomen, or circulatory
risking exposure to pockets of toxins/gases • May be none initially (chronic, organ involve- compromise)
not apparent to handlers. ment, carcinogenic) • Arterial blood gas and/or pulse oximetry
• Weapons of mass destruction, chemicals ○ Note for carbon monoxide poisoning:
(chemical agent or toxic industrial chemical), Etiology and Pathophysiology pulse oximetry cannot evaluate the severity
biologics, nuclear/radiologics, incendiaries • Environmental: dehydration, hyperthermia, of hypoxemia because of its inability to
and explosives, illicit drugs hypothermia, inadequate nutrition, inad- differentiate oxygenated hemoglobin and
equate conditioning, drowning, choking, carboxyhemoglobin.
CONTAGION AND ZOONOSIS plant toxins, tremorgenic mycotoxins, • Arterial blood pressure: hypotension
• Agents of bioterrorism, foreign animal dis- blue-green algae, zootoxins (hypovolemic shock), hypertension (some
eases, biological weapons of mass destruction • Foot problems: laceration, abrasion, torn intoxications)
• Infectious agents: Leptospira, rabies, other nail(s), contact dermatitis • Electrocardiogram: sinus tachycardia (some
endemic infectious agents (e.g., tick-borne, • Trauma: fracture, laceration, abrasion, intoxications); ventricular arrhythmias
geologically specific agents), ectoparasites, projectiles, blunt trauma, crushing injury, (hypoxemia, myocarditis, ischemic events,
and endoparasites sprain, strain heat stroke)
• Explosives: cyclonite (C-4); 2,4,6-trinitro- • Radiographs as appropriate for trauma,
GEOGRAPHY AND SEASONALITY toluene (TNT); pentaerythritol tetranitrate, respiratory distress, neurologic disease,
Consider effects of weather conditions, dynamite (nitroglycerin plus stabilizing gastrointestinal disease
especially temperature extremes. Consider agent), nitrates, smokeless powders, chlorates, • Ultrasound for thoracic or abdominal
geographic location and local environmental nitromethane, triacetone triperoxide disorders: TFAST or AFAST (p. 1102)
conditions such as dust, mold, sand, floodwater, • Toxins: ethylene glycol; rodenticides; her- • Temperature: working dogs can reach tem-
blue-green algae and toxic plants as inhaled, bicides; insecticides; toxic agents released at peratures of more than 42.2°C (108°F) but
ocular, dermal, or ingestion risks. disaster site (gas, smoke, particulates, liquids, should return to normal within 30 minutes
solids) such as hydrocarbons, polychlorinated
ASSOCIATED DISORDERS biphenyls, hazardous metals, asbestos, gases Advanced or Confirmatory Testing
Nutritional (dehydration, diet change, or (hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulfide, Freon, • Specific diagnostic tests depend on exposure
anorexia when working), stress related (gastric halogenated gases, carbon monoxide), soaps/ and clinical presentation.
dilation/volvulus, anorexia/adipsia, posttrau- detergents/acids/alkalis, propylene glycol, • Specific diagnostic tests exist, but availability
matic stress disorder [PTSD], burnout) phenol, alcohols varies: ethylene glycol test, coagulation

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