Evaluating Disease Patterns of Military Working Dogs in the Republic of Korea: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate disease patterns among military working dogs (MWDs) at the Armed Forces Medical Research Institute (AFMRI) to provide basic medical data on Korean MWDs. The medical records of procedures performed at AFMRI between November 2017 and March 2021 were reviewed. Physical examination, diagnostic imaging, and laboratory tests were performed according to the status of each dog. A total of 353 MWDs (215 males and 138 females; mean age, 6 ± 3 years) were analyzed in this study. Among Korean MWDs, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are the most frequently diagnosed, followed by dental and musculoskeletal disorders. Foreign body (FB) ingestion had the highest prevalence of GI disorders, with the most common FB being a leather collar or leash. General and dental surgeries, including removal of gastric FB and tooth extraction, were routinely performed at the AFMRI. Preventative care focusing on dental disease and FB ingestion may be helpful for effective performance and good quality of life in MWDs, with the regular assessment and prevention of environmental factors that may contribute to behavioral problems such as FB ingestion, coprophagy, and anorexia.

Noncombat injury and illness prevalence and working score percentage quantify the impact on duty availability in US Army Special Operations military working dogs

“…occurrence among dogs deployed to combat zones, and Schuh-Renner et al 11 reported DNBI frequencies among young nondeployed MWDs. In non-US working dogs, Park et al 12 and Suprovych et al 13 indicated that gastrointestinal, general trauma, musculoskeletal, dental, and dermatological conditions were the most reported health conditions in non-US military canines. However, these studies did not quantify the impact on the dogs' availability or medical readiness to perform their job.…”