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
