On-site veterinary medical evaluation and care of working dogs and horses at the 2012 Republican National Convention.

The research article summarizes a study conducted to understand the health management and care provided to working dogs and horses engaged during the 2012 Republican National Convention (RNC). The most common reason for veterinary checkups was wellness, and a small number of animals were taken off work due to health reasons.

Methodology

• The study adopted a retrospective case series method.
• The research targeted working dogs and horses deployed at the RNC in Tampa, Florida, from August 24 to 30, 2012.
• A total of 130 dogs and 45 horses were examined.
• Data was collected regarding the breed, age, health history, and task assignment of the animals.
• The reasons for evaluation and the findings of physical examinations were also recorded.
• Every interaction between an animal and the veterinary staff was recorded as a patient encounter.

Results

• 46 out of 130 dogs (35%) and all 45 horses (100%) underwent at least one on-site veterinary evaluation.
• There were 478 patient encounters recorded in total.
• The most frequent reason for seeking veterinary help was for conducting a wellness check, with 446 instances.
• Following veterinary recommendations, 1 dog and 4 horses were removed from service for the event’s duration.
• In addition, 1 dog and 1 horse were temporarily removed from service for 12 to 24 hours, but were allowed to return after a veterinary reevaluation.

Conclusions

• The findings suggested that the health issues encountered by working dogs and horses at large planned events differ significantly from those deployed in the aftermath of disasters.
• It was inferred that pre-event planning and training of animal handlers and riders played a vital role in minimizing health issues, especially those related to exposure to high heat.