Police in LaPorte County Receive K9 Narcan Administration Training from PVM ECC Team

K9 narcan training photo

The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department completed K9 Narcan training thanks to Dr. Paula Johnson, Purdue Veterinary Medicine clinical assistant professor of small animal emergency and critical care, and fellow members of the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Emergency and Critical Care (ECC) Team. The training for first responders in northern Indiana covered symptoms of opioid exposure and basic life saving techniques, including the administration of naloxone, commonly known by the name Narcan, to keep police dogs alive when they are exposed to deadly narcotics.

Narcan training photo

PVM ECC Veterinary Technician Katie Mowery shows an officer how to administer naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, via intramuscular injection.

Indiana police forces statewide are opting into this training for K9 officers because these dogs are at considerable risk due to their work around drug-related crimes. LaPorte City Police Department and Lakeville officers and their K9 partners were also present for this training event.

“The risk for a dog is not just oral ingestion [of opioids],” Dr. Johnson explained. “The drug can be airborne, or there could be dermal exposure if some lands on the dog’s coat. Any of the powder that they’re exposed to can be ingested later while the dog is grooming or just walking around. It can even be absorbed through their paws.”

A dog exposed to opioids will display a wide range of symptoms, from stumbling and sedation, to excitability and nervousness, which can change the preferred Narcan administration method in the moment. Narcan can be administered to canines as a nasal spray or by intramuscular injection.

The Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital offers discounts for the medical treatment of certified service dogs and police K9s. For more information, inquire at 765-494-1107.

Writer(s): Lauren Bruce | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

Today we’re sending a big “High Five” to Emma Wood, who is a Medical Oncology Client Liaison and the Client Liaison Team Lead for the Purdue Small Animal Reception Team, for the supportive energy she brings to her work every day.

In Memory: Former Veterinary Medical Library Staff Member Tonya Mull 

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine community is saddened to learn that Tonya R. Mull of Lafayette, Indiana, who served as a longtime Purdue Libraries staff member, including multiple years as a staff member in the Veterinary Medical Library, passed away October 18 at Franciscan Health Lafayette East.  She was 59.

PVM Symposium Offers MOAAR Education on Medicine of Aquatics, Amphibians and Reptiles

Veterinary professionals and students gathered recently at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine to take advantage of a special opportunity to enhance their knowledge and expertise about the care and treatment of aquatic, amphibian, and reptilian species. The fifth biennial Medicine of Aquatics, Amphibians, and Reptiles (MOAAR) Symposium was held October 18–19, at Lynn Hall on Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus, bringing together veterinarians, veterinary technicians, students, and experts dedicated to the care of exotic species.

Local Veterinary Celebration Highlights Global Veterinary Education

Going global is a popular ambition in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine as evidenced by the turnout for the college’s annual Global Engagement Fair last Friday, October 17. Held in the Veterinary Medical Library in Lynn Hall, the festive event featured international cuisine and displays about various study abroad opportunities available to Purdue DVM and Veterinary Technology students.