An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Kyrgyz military working dog gets root canal at Transit Center medical group

  • Published
  • By 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
  • With contribution from Lt. Col. Robert Beadle, 376th Expeditionary Medical Group dentist
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan --  All military working dogs work hard and play hard. When they "attack" a ball during training or play time, their teeth often hit the hard ground or rocks.

Alicia, a military working dog employed by the Kyrgyz presidential guard, did just that. She hit the ball so hard she broke her lower left canine tooth through the nerve.

"Often when the canine teeth are broken or completely missing, the dog begins to lose its aggressiveness," said Lt. Col. Robert Beadle, 376th Expeditionary Medical Group dentist. "The canines are the dog's weapons. Alisa's tooth was broken badly, and she needed a root canal treatment."

Army National Guard Capt. Erica McNaul, the 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron K9 veterinarian, and her technician, Army SSG Gary Schoborg, also a Guardsman, worked with their Kyrgyz counter parts to make an appointment at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, for Alicia.

"The working dogs visit each other's training grounds with their handlers and veterinarians twice weekly," Captain McNaul said.

Captain McNaul waited for her replacement, Capt. Thomas Albrecht, to arrive at the Transit Center so that he could be part of the procedure.

"It is so rare that any of the doctors have an opportunity to do this treatment," she said. They wanted to make the most of it.

March 3, 2010, Alicia arrived at the medical clinic with Natalia, the Kyrgyz Army veterinarian, and was sedated and anesthetized. She filled the entire dental chair.

"Using doggie instruments similar to those used on humans, the root canal treatment was complete in about an hour," Colonel Beadle said. "It was a great experience for all those present. Without treatment at the medical center on base, it is doubtful that she would have received treatment. Kyrgyz and American servicemen came together for a common cause: we kept a four-footed serviceman on duty."