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CBRN

CBRN MILITARY WORKING DOG CASUALTY MANAGEMENT

Chemical protective doctrine for animals is incomplete, and there is no chemical protective equipment
in the current inventory for MWDs. Equipment and doctrine for animals are under development but
pending its availability, any degree of protection of the MWD in a CBRN agent environment will, at best,
be extremely difficult. The MWD’s Handler should be in possession of additional ATNAA and CANA kits
to use on their MWD. Attempt to obtain and use those resources first when treating a MWD.
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 the head, along the back and to the tip of the tail, then
work down the MWD’s sides, chest, and 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 in
between legs to ensure all contamination is removed.
• Flushed 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 materiel may be placed
around the MWD while it shakes off excess water to prevent contaminating of other people,
MWDs, or equipment.
TREATMENT OF MILITARY WORKING DOG CASUALTIES 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 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 to 20 minutes until the nerve agent effects
have subsided or signs of atropinization appear. The MWD must be monitored for heat stress.
CBRN
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/kilogram. Three ATNAA injectors should
provide sufficient amount of 2–PAM Cl. If a MWD is still showing signs of seizure after initial

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