'Walter Reed' for combat dogs opens

Some 2,500 dogs are working with military units.

Like soldiers and Marines in combat, military dogs suffer from war wounds and routine health issues that need to be treated to ensure they can continue working.

Dogs injured in Iraq or Afghanistan get emergency medical treatment on the battlefield and are flown to Germany for care. Now, if necessary, they'll fly on to a new $15 million veterinary hospital for four-legged military personnel opened Tuesday at Lackland Air Force Base.

To treat the trainees and injured working dogs, the new hospital has operating rooms, digital radiography, CT scanning equipment, an intensive care unit and rehab rooms with an underwater treadmill and exercise balls, among other features. A behavioral specialist has an office near the lobby.

Source: Chicago Sun Times

(via Full Frontal Natalie)