Evaluating Disease Patterns of Military Working Dogs in the Republic of Korea: A Retrospective Study

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Evaluating disease patterns of military working dogs is important for effective preventive care. The disease patterns may be affected by breed and living and working conditions. This study reviewed medical data from the Armed Forces Medical Research Institute in the Republic of Korea. Gastrointestinal diseases due to foreign body ingestion were the most common. To prevent ingestive behavior disorders, such as foreign body ingestion, it is important to evaluate and improve the environment of military working dogs that may induce stress. Surgery for dental disease or the removal of a gastric foreign body was generally performed. Therefore, preventive care for dental disease and foreign body ingestion may be helpful for the effective performance and good quality of life in Korean military working dogs. ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to evaluate disease patterns among military working dogs (MWDs) at the Armed Forces Medical Research Institute (AFMRI) to provide basic medical data on Korean MWDs. The medical records of procedures performed at AFMRI between November 2017 and March 2021 were reviewed. Physical examination, diagnostic imaging, and laboratory tests were performed according to the status of each dog. A total of 353 MWDs (215 males and 138 females; mean age, 6 ± 3 years) were analyzed in this study. Among Korean MWDs, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are the most frequently diagnosed, followed by dental and musculoskeletal disorders. Foreign body (FB) ingestion had the highest prevalence of GI disorders, with the most common FB being a leather collar or leash. General and dental surgeries, including removal of gastric FB and tooth extraction, were routinely performed at the AFMRI. Preventative care focusing on dental disease and FB ingestion may be helpful for effective performance and good quality of life in MWDs, with the regular assessment and prevention of environmental factors that may contribute to behavioral problems such as FB ingestion, coprophagy, and anorexia.