Santa’s Reindeer Cleared for Fight After Annual Veterinary Exam, AVMA Says

By Jessica Pineda

Veterinary Practice News

"In a statement, Santa thanked the AVMA and said, "Without my reindeer, there simply would be no Christmas."

Tom Meyer, DVM, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and official veterinarian of the North Pole, checks in on one of Santa's reindeer in their annual exam prior to Christmas Eve.

Traveling the world in record time means Santa's reindeer don't get a lot of time to sight see, but it can expose them to various viruses and bacteria. That's why, before takeoff, Tom Meyer, DVM, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and official veterinarian of the North Pole, came in to check on each reindeer to ensure they were up-to-date on their vaccinations, were disease-free and healthy enough for the annual journey.

The results, as always, were spectacular. "After a thorough examination, I can tell you that Santa's reindeer are perfectly healthy, in great shape and ready for their upcoming flight," Dr. Meyer said.

You can watch his inspection below:

Meyer always performs a health check on the reindeer about a month prior to Christmas Eve. Not only do they want to ensure they aren't susceptible to disease, the veterinary team wants to make sure the reindeer don't pass on diseases either, such as brucellosis, tuberculosis or chronic wasting disease.

"Santa's reindeer need to be in tip-top shape to complete their Christmas Eve flight on time, so it's vital that they receive a pre-trip veterinary exam to make sure they are free of any injuries that might slow them down," Meyer said. "Because the reindeer will be visiting all corners of the globe, we need to make sure they are up-to-date on their vaccinations and free of disease so they don't pick up or spread any infections to other animals around the world."

Meyer also had to ensure Santa's "North Pole Certificate of Animal Export," which allows him to freely cross borders and ensure health officials that his reindeer are no threat to animal or public health, was up-to-date.

Santa, in a statement, thanked Meyer and the AVMA for their work. "Without my reindeer, there simply would be no Christmas. Proper veterinary care ensures that, year in and year out, my team and I are able to deliver presents to boys and girls around the world. It's safe to say that Dr. Meyer is on the 'Nice List' this year."

This won't be Meyer's only trip to the North Pole. On Christmas Eve, he'll give the reindeer another pre-flight checkup, and then check on them when they return Christmas morning.

The AVMA, in a press release, said that Meyer's work is consistent with roles veterinarians play every day to "ensure the health of animals, people and the environment around the globe."

Veterinarians can help other Christmas pets too, the AVMA reports. "While only one veterinarian can be official veterinarian of the North Pole, every veterinarian can help the cause by volunteering to be part of Santa's emergency veterinary staff on Christmas Eve. AVMA members can download a badge to let their clients know they are part of Santa's Emergency Landing and Veterinary Expert System (E.L.V.E.S.) support team. Veterinarians are invited to help spread holiday cheer by displaying their official E.L.V.E.S. badge on their clinics' social media channels and educating clients on the various ways that veterinarians help keep all animals healthy - even reindeer."

To find out more about the E.L.V.E.S. badge and download it, members are encouraged to go to the AVMA website."

You can find Dr. Meyer's Official Certificate of Inspection for the reindeer here.

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AVMA Vet Clinic Live!

Our very own Jim Mosley demonstrating one of our Smartphone Endoscope Adapters at AVMA's Vet Clinic Live!

To learn more about our Smartphone Adapters, visit us online at Endoscopy.com or give us a call at (845) 277-1700!

National Check the Chip Day.

Learn more about

National Check the Chip Day

at the AVMA website!

AVMA Animal Hospital

Did you know that the

 American Veterinary Medical Association

has their own video game?!

"Start out as a New Veterinarian and work your way up the ranks to become Chief Veterinarian of AVMA Animal Hospital. The quicker you are at diagnosing and treating the animals, the more points you'll score. Can't get to all the animals in time? Just try again and build on your skills. Learn about each animal's ailments, diagnostics, and treatments as you race the clock and treat the animals. During the game you'll have the opportunity to treat dogs, cats, guinea pigs, birds and turtles."

Play online now!

Pets in Vehicles

"Every year, hundreds of pets die from heat exhaustion because they are left in parked vehicles. We've heard the excuses: "Oh, it will just be a few minutes while I go into the store," or "But I cracked the windows..." These excuses don't amount to much if your pet becomes seriously ill or dies from being left in a vehicle.

The temperature inside your vehicle can rise almost 20 degrees F in just 10 minutes. In 20 minutes, it can rise almost 30 degrees F and the longer you wait, the higher it goes. At 60 minutes, the temperature in your vehicle can be more than 40 degrees higher than the outside temperature. Even on a 70-degree day, that's 110 degrees inside your vehicle!

Your vehicle can quickly reach a temperature that puts your pet at risk of serious illness and even death, even on a day that doesn't seem hot to you. And cracking the windows makes no difference.

Want numbers? An independent study showed that the interior temperature of vehicles parked in outside temperatures ranging from 72 to 96 degrees F rose steadily as time increased. Another study, performed by the Louisiana Office of Public Health, found that the temperatures in a dark sedan as well as a light gray minivan parked on a hot, but partly cloudy day, exceeded 125 degrees F within 20 minutes. 

This study also found that cracking the windows had very little effect on the temperature rise inside the vehicle. This is definitely a situation where "love 'em and leave 'em" is a good thing. Please leave your pets at home when you can... they'll be safe and happily waiting for you to come home.

...but wait, there's more!

The risks associated with pets in vehicles don't end with heatstroke. Just as you should always wear your seat belt to protect you in case of a collision, your pet should always be properly restrained while in the vehicle. That means a secure harness or a carrier. 

A loose, small pet could crawl down in the foot well, interfering with use of the brake or accelerator pedal. A small pet sitting in your lap could be injured or killed by the airbag or could be crushed between your body and the airbag in a collision, and a large pet leaning across your lap can interfere with your view of the road and can be injured by the air bag in a collision. Unrestrained pets could be thrown out or through windows or windshields in a collision. And not only could your pet be injured in the collision, but it might also increase your risk of collision by distracting you and taking your attention away from where it should be - on the road.

To learn more about the importance of restraining your pets, visit Paws to Click.

Most of us smile when we see a dogs face happily hanging out a window, digging the ride and the smells wafting on the breeze, but this is a very risky venture for the dog for three reasons. One, it means your dog isn't properly restrained - and we've already told you why that's so important. Two, your dog is at high risk of eye, ear, face, and mouth injury from airborne objects when it's got its face hanging out the window. Three, letting your dog hang any part of its body out of the window increases the risk that (s)he could be thrown out of the vehicle during a collision, lose its balance and fall out of the open window during an abrupt turn or maneuver, or jump out of the vehicle to threaten another dog or a person.

And let's not forget the severe dangers of driving with your dog in the bed of a pickup truck. Dogs can fall or jump from the truck bed and be injured or killed on impact, or be struck by other traffic. And just as letting your dog hang its head out of the window puts it at risk of injury from debris, a dog in a truck bed is even more exposed to airborne hazards. Using an appropriate-length tether may reduce the risk that your dog will exit the truck bed, but the tether could tangle, injure, or even choke your dog. If you must transport your dog in the bed of a pickup truck, sue a secured and appropriately sized and ventilated dog kennel. 

(For more information, read out Dogs Traveling in Truck Beds literature review)

Before you put your pet in the vehicle, ask yourself if you really need to take your pet with you - and if the answer is no, leave your pet safely at home. If you must take your pet with you, make sure (s)he is properly restrained so the trip is as safe as possible for both of you."

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