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