Page 83 - 2026 SMOG

CBRN CASUALTY MANAGEMENT
Military Working Dog Decontamination Procedures
While not generally a MEDEVAC mission, ensuring proper MWD Decon prior to transport is vital
to ensuring the platform and crew are not contaminated by the agent involved.
• Rinse the MWD thoroughly with plain water, beginning at the head along the back and to the
tail; then rinse down the MWD’s sides, chest, stomach, legs, and paws.
• Work the soap into the hair, starting at the head, along the back and to the tip of the tail, then
work down the MWD’s sides, chest, abdomen, legs, and paws. Ensure the soap reaches the
MWD’s skin. If the MWD has erect ears, flush the ears with otic solution or water.
NOTE: Special attention should be paid to the MWD’s stomach, face, ears, eyes, under tail, paws,
and between legs to ensure all contamination is removed.
Flush the eyes with copious amounts of water, ophthalmic solution, or saline. Rinse with plain
water using the same pattern as the initial rinse (head to back to tail, then down sides, chest,
stomach, legs, and paws).
• Allow the MWD to shake off excess water. A tarp or other impervious material may be placed
around the MWD while it shakes off excess water to prevent contamination of other people,
MWDs, or equipment.
Military Working Dog: Treatment of Nerve Agents
• For mildly exposed MWDs, administer a total of two ATNAA injections (atropine and 2-PAM
Cl in a single autoinjector) (carried by the MWD handler) into the back of the thigh of the dog.
The initial dosage of atropine is 4mg and the dosage for 2-PAM Cl is 1200mg
• For severely exposed MWDs, administer three ATNAA and one CANA. This is similar to the
buddy aid a Service member provides to another Service member suffering from severe nerve
agent exposure. In general, MWDs should not need additional 2-PAM Cl injections.
• Single atropine injections may be given every 10–20 min until the nerve agent effects have
subsided or signs of atropinization appear. Monitor the MWD for heat stress. Atropine dries the
mucous membranes, thus preventing the MWD from expelling body heat.
• The initial dosage of 2-PAM Cl in the dog is 20mg/kg. Three ATNAA injectors should provide
a sufficient amount of 2-PAM Cl. If an MWD is still showing signs of seizure after initial
treatment, the handler may give up to 3 additional CANA autoinjections at 5–10min intervals
until the seizures are gone.
• Maintain a clear airway by removing respiratory secretions and saliva obstructing the airway.
Loosen or remove the muzzle. In severe nerve agent exposure, the animal’s respiration is
markedly depressed, and extreme muscular weakness or paralysis is present. In such cases,
assisted ventilation is required to resuscitate the animal effectively.
• Adequate atropine and 2-PAM Cl should bring about an improvement or restoration of
spontaneous respiration and also improve blood circulation. However, the effectiveness of
2-PAM Cl is lost after a short period of time. The 2-PAM Cl varies in its effectiveness against
nerve agents. It is least effective against the GD nerve agent. In some cases, severe nerve
agent symptoms may persist or recur and require veterinary personnel to administer additional
2-PAM Cl autoinjectors q8–12hr for up to 3 days.

2026 Standard Medical Operating Guidelines (SMOG) • 75