“K-9 Down” Program Shows Working Dog Handlers How to Save Companions’ Lives

North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is offering a two-day seminar on Feb. 2-3 as part of a national “K-9 Down” program that instructs working dog handlers and rescue personnel in life-saving procedures for their canine companions.

The seminar – designed for police officers, firefighters, tactical medics, search and rescue teams, and military dog handlers – involves one day of classroom instruction and a second day of hands-on experience with dogs in a lab environment to gain emergency treatment skills.

Participants will learn how to protect their dogs from health hazards and how to provide emergency treatment when their dogs suffer from smoke inhalation, burn wounds, heat stroke and hypothermia, gun shot wounds, poisoning, broken bones, internal injuries, and other issues.

“This is our third year and these ‘K-9 Down’ seminars are always well attended,” says seminar organizer Dr. Rita Hanel, a clinical assistant professor and an emergency and critical care specialist at the college’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. “The participants value the information and training they receive because they appreciate how critical it may be to the health of their dog.”

In addition to Hanel, CVM instructors for the North Carolina seminar include Dr. Steve Marks, a clinical associate professor and critical care and internal medicine specialist, and small animal surgeons Drs. Kent Vince and Brian Trumpatori.

The “K-9 Down” program was established by Dr. Sheilah Robertson, associate professor of anesthesia and pain management at the University of Florida. She will also participate as an instructor for this weekend’s seminar.