Angell Provided Free Eye Exams for 28 Service Dogs in May

Dr. Martin Coster examines Zoar, a female Seeing Eye guide dog also alerts her diabetic handler when his blood sugar is getting low, nudging him to the kitchen to get some food!

In May 2017, Angell’s Ophthalmology team examined 28 service dogs as part of a national program to provide free eye exams, spearheaded by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO). Guide dogs, handicapped assistance dogs, detection dogs and search and rescue dogs selflessly serve the public. To help support these dogs who dedicate their lives to serving the public, the annual ACVO/Stokes Rx National Service Dog Eye Exam Event takes place each May. Angell’s Dan Biros, DVM, DACVO and Martin Coster, DVM, MS, DACVO—both board certified in veterinary ophthalmology—examined a variety of service dogs during the month,

All dogs received a comprehensive ocular exam; the doctors checked for health issues spanning redness, squinting, cloudy corneas, retinal disease, early cataracts, and other serious abnormalities. Angell Animal Medical Center expects to continue participating in the national program each May as a way to give back to the Boston-area community, and reinforce just how crucial these dogs are for the people who rely on them.

A sampling of groups served since the event launched in 2008 include: Transportation Security Agency (TSA) and military working dogs from Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, Puppies Behind Bars, an organization providing psychiatric service dogs to soldiers coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan, local fire, rescue and police agencies, and also individual service dog owners and handlers who rely on these amazing animals daily.

Dogs that qualify for this annual service include “active working dogs” that have been certified by a formal training program or organization or are currently enrolled in a formal training program. This includes guide dogs, handicapped assistance dogs, detection dogs, police dogs, and search and rescue dogs. Essentially the dogs need to have some sort of certification and/or training paperwork to qualify for this particular program. Additional registration details can be found at www.ACVOeyeexam.org.

Dr. Martin Coster examines Bessie, an 11-year-old seeing eye dog – with Claudia Scenna, CVT

Dr. Martin Coster examines Salem, a 5-year-old seeing eye dog – with Tia Irving, CVT

For more information about Angell’s Ophthalmology Service, please visit www.angell.org/eyes or call 617-541-5095.