mission arctic crossroads 2010 mission arctic crossroads 2010 lcdr mary anne duncan lcdr wanda...

MISSION ARCTIC CROSSROADS

2010

MISSION ARCTIC CROSSROADS2010

LCDR Mary Anne DuncanLCDR Wanda Wilson

ARCTIC CROSSROADS 2010

•August 2nd – 12th 2010

•United States Coast Guard (USCG), in cooperation with the Alaska National Guard and Alaska Air Guard

•Multi-mission deployment to Northern Alaska

OVERALL MISSION GOALS

• Determine the operational effectiveness and overall capabilities of Coast Guard response boats and communication equipment

• Provide medical, veterinary, dental, and optometry care, and boating safety awareness to eight underserved boroughs

VETERINARY TEAMS

Team 1

•LCDR Wanda Wilson

•LCDR Mary Anne Duncan

Team 2

•Stacy Holzbauer

•Kevin Greene

VETERINARY MISSION OBJECTIVES

• Go door-to-door in the villages

• Vaccinate dogs and cats for rabies and treat them with a dewormer

• Vaccinate dogs for distemper, adenovirus, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus (DALPP)

• To address any health concerns

VETERINARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• 199 dogs and cats vaccinated for rabies

• 319 dogs and cats dewormed

• 294 dogs vaccinated with DALPP

• 9 sick or injured animals received medical consultations

• 2 lay vaccinators were trained

• Children given books on care and treatment of animals and food safety

TEAM 1 IMPACTS

• Provided veterinary care equivalent to $17,680 in services

• Integral part of zoonotic disease control in this region.

• Lay vaccinators that were trained will support efforts to reduce the incidence of rabies in Alaska

MISSION CHALLENGES

• Working dog/pet care needs of the region went well beyond vaccinations

• Villages were expecting us to deliver general health care as well

• Service most requested was for spays and neuters -- received 5-15 requests per village

MISSION CHALLENGES

• Several requests for euthanasias (2-5 per village)

• Did not have euthanasia solution or an established process for disposing of the remains

SUPPLIES BROUGHT BY TEAM

• Stethoscopes• Thermometer• Penlight• Alcohol, peroxide• Hand sanitizer wipes• Muzzles• Cat bag• Rabies pole• Clippers• Razor• Gauze, cotton balls

• Surgical scrub• Mini surgical packs• Suture• Ear cleaner• Nail trimmers• Quick Stop• Eye wash• Fluorescein dye• Antibiotic eye ointment• Nystatin, neomycin,

thiostrepton and triamcinolone ointment

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Provide equipment and medications needed for basic pet care or arrange for use of a federal cache of veterinary supplies (i.e. National Veterinary Response Team cache)

• Purchase broad spectrum dewormers:– Dogs: praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate/febantel

dewormer

– Cats: praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate

– Pregnant animals and young puppies/kittens: pyrantel pamoate

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Provide maps of the villages – Aid in locating pets

– Mark areas that were recently treated by previous missions

– Mark areas where animals were vaccinated if whole village not covered

• Include veterinarians in the planning process of future missions