Free Eye Exams For Service Dogs

Some dogs do more than serve as pets…they actually work to provide important services to others.  Those dogs include seeing eye dogs, search and rescue dogs, and police k-9 among others.  This week the American Veterinary Medical Association is giving back to them with free eye exams.

They’re calling it National Service Dog Eye Exam Week - and participating veterinary ophthalmologists are giving free checkups to our four-legged friends.  Veterinary Ophthalmologist Dr. J. Daniel Brogdon says, “Any dog that’s involved with the service industry - we are going to give just a free exam to make sure they don’t have any ocular problems.”

Those problems include many of the same things we humans suffer from - things like cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration… Things an eye exam can catch early before it’s too late to do something to help.  Dr. Brogdon says, “Just make sure everything is fine - that they don’t have any problems because vision is so important to these dogs and they provide such a great service.”

Some dogs who work for Urban Search and Rescue based in Hilton Head are getting the free exams.  Their handlers drove to Savannah to get the exams done at the Animal Eye Clinic.  Urban Search and Rescue director Daniel Fuller says, “The biggest tool that we use - the nose - naturally vision helps.  It gets them around obstructions, you know - alert to danger and what not - and it was something that I had never really thought about.”  And with several small problems pointed out for the owners to keep an eye on - these dogs have a leg up on staying healthy and continuing to serve mankind for years to come.  Fuller says, “Makes my day - specially with three dogs - just saved me a couple hundred dollars - that couple hundred dollars can go toward a search.”

The Savannah Animal Eye Clinic is offering the free exams to service dogs - by appointment only -throughout the week.  You can call 912-236-2050 for more information.