(Blue Ash, Ohio) – The dogs that help protect us will receive preventative health care treatment from some of the top veterinarians and animal health specialists in the area. The Cincinnati Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) again teamed up with UC Blue Ash College to host the 24th Annual Canine Corps Health Clinic this past December.
More than 50 working canines from law enforcement and search and rescue agencies throughout the area will be treated at the clinic. The preventive care includes a series of specialty exams focused on the needs of these particular working dogs. Local specialists in orthopedics, hearing, vision, dentistry, and skin health will thoroughly evaluate the dogs. The canines will also receive a cardiac ultrasound and an abdominal ultrasound as screening tests. IDEXX Laboratories is donating all of the lab services for the event. The total value for all these services and examinations approaches $1,500 per dog.
“Performing preventative medicine on these highly specialized and trained canines is essential. In past events, these exams have been able to pinpoint significant health problems early that were able to be treated proactively. This puts the dogs and handlers ahead of the game and keeps them healthy for their difficult work,” said Susanna Hinkle Schwartz, DVM, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons and public relations board member on the CVMA.
Students from the University of Cincinnati FETCHLAB and the Veterinary Technology program at UC Blue Ash will again volunteer to help with the program. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our veterinary technician students to interact with the dogs and their handlers, learn about the amazing work they do, and see how important preventative health care is to their success,” said Dr. Stacey Benton, Assistant Professor, UC Blue Ash.
The Canine Corps event was created by CVMA in 1993 to provide health screens and preventive care for the canines that protect and serve communities.