Browse the corpus

Many military and law enforcement agencies now deploy dogs in high-risk and high-fatality operations, including explosive detection, patrol, tracking, and search and rescue.[1] These canine officers, including military working dogs (MWDs) and other canine officers (COs), are highly skilled and invaluable team members who put their lives on the line to ensure the safety and security of their colleagues and the public. In situations where veterinarians are seldom available immediately after an injury to these canine officers, it becomes crucial for dog handlers, medics, and other first responders to possess the knowledge and skills required for providing emergency care.

The Tactical Combat Casualty Care concept and guidelines have standardized point-of-injury care for human combat casualties and remain among the most significant interventions for reducing combat-related mortality from preventable deaths.[4][15] The K9 Tactical Combat Casualty Care Initiative was designed to provide evidence-based, standardized guidelines for MWD to reduce preventable deaths.[4] The MARCHE algorithm was slightly modified to MWD M3ARCH2E: M1: Muzzle M2: Massive hemorrhage M3: Medication A: Airway R: Respiration C: Circulation H1: Head injury H2: Hypothermia E: Everything else

IV access for canines can be established on the cephalic vein on the lateral surface of the front legs or the saphenous veins on the lateral surface of the hind legs. The external jugular vein may be accessible on either side of the neck at the jugular furrow. The leg area should be clipped of fur and prepped with surgical disinfectant for sterility and bandage securement.[2]