Veterinarians that care for service dogs such as police, military, and search and rescue dogs are entrusted in maintaining the health of animals that provide a vital service to man, especially during times of crisis such as the terrorist events of 2001, when the searching abilities of the these dogs were of paramount importance. Understanding the types of agents and environments to which these dogs may be exposed will aid the practitioner in providing the utmost of care to these valuable dogs, both during and after their exposure to disaster sites. Many of the concepts presented here are not restricted to dogs that are involved in terrorist attacks, but may also be applied to dogs that are present at natural disaster sites, such as earthquakes or floods.

Dogs working at disaster sites may be exposed to a variety of environments, from burning fires to areas flooded by rain or fire control water. Search and rescue dogs may enter areas deemed too hazardous for their human counterparts, risking hazards such as crush injury or exposure to undetected pockets of noxious gases. When humans enter disaster sites, they are frequently outfitted with equipment that protects them from dermal, ocular and inhaled toxicants. Unlike their human counterparts, the use of protectants such as "booties"' or goggles is not common, often due to the reluctance of handlers to use these products. This reluctance may be due to poor tolerance of these items on some dogs or the perception by the handler that these products impede performance in the dog (e.g. poor traction from booties). Because they rely on their olfactory sense to perform their duties, dogs that are searching disaster sites are continually exposed to the inhalation of a variety of potentially irritating and/or toxic agents.

Potential routes of exposure to toxic agents include skin, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, and mucous membranes of the eye and oral cavity. Many of the breeds used for search and rescue (e.g. German shepherd, Labrador retriever) have dense coats that can protect much of the dog from dermal exposures. However, because the use of protective "boots" on dogs is not uniform, dogs may be at risk of exposure to physical (e.g. broken glass) and toxic (e.g. solvents) hazards that they walk through as they work disaster sites. Additionally, areas of skin with thinner hair coat protection (e.g. muzzle, ventral abdomen), may allow significant dermal exposure to potentially toxic agents.

Inhalation of large particulate matter may result in respiratory tract irritation and/or oral ingestion of particulates. Smaller particulate matter may reach the smaller airways or alveoli, where irritation and/or systemic absorption may occur. Inhalation of gases may result in almost immediate systemic absorption.

Ocular exposure to toxicants is not generally considered to be a significant source of systemic exposure, but the irritation from ocular irritants may cause sufficient ocular injury and inflammation as to force the retirement of a dog from a disaster site.

The types of agents to which dogs may be exposed during their work at a disaster site can roughly be categorized as solids (particulates), liquids, and gases. Explosive and compressive forces may release a variety of toxic agents (e.g. heavy metals, asbestos) that are normally safely contained. Many solid agents may be converted to particulates that may cause immediate or delayed injury. Particulate matter poses hazards as both respiratory and ocular irritants. Occasionally, a dog may swallow sufficient particulate matter as to cause gastrointestinal irritation and/or systemic absorption. Particulates of heavy metals, such as arsenic or lead, may result in significant systemic absorption and, potentially, toxicosis. Asbestos, which is normally trapped in concrete matrix, may be released in hazardous particulate form when explosive forces pulverize concrete. Asbestos may cause acute respiratory irritation but is more of a concern due to the potential for long-term injury, including pulmonary inflammation. Whether short-term exposure to asbestos is likely to cause pulmonary neoplasia in dogs has not yet been determined.

Liquids, depending on their physical characteristics, can pose both dermal and ingestion hazards. Solvents, such as ethylene glycol and acetone may leak from damaged equipment and containers. Many solvents will cause chemical burns to the skin upon contact, while agents such as ethylene glycol pose significant systemic hazards.