Veterinary

It is recommended that pet owners establish a relationship with an off-base veterinarian in case the Red Cloud VTF staff is not available due to other mission requirements.  You can find a list of off-post providers as well as other information at the 65th Medical Brigade’s website.

Area I pet owners: We are your primary military VTF. Currently sick calls and most other procedures must be done at the USAG Red Cloud VTF.

Because we know this is an inconvenience for you, we are doing our best to provide alternatives.

Once or twice a month on average, we bring a mobile vaccination, HWT, and microchip clinic to the Camp Casey Health Clinic- please call the USAG Red Cloud VTF to find out the next date.

In the meantime if you do not have a vehicle, there are cabs, trains and the post bus which will allow you to bring your pets to Camp Red Cloud as long as they are in a kennel or crate.

Services provided by the CRC VTF include:

·        Registration: USKF Regulation 40-5 requires all pet owners under SOFA to register their pets at the nearest VTF within 10 days upon arrival in South Korea or within 10 days of acquiring a pet in South Korea, whether they live on or off base. Registration can be done during business hours without the pet or an appointment.

·        Microchipping: USFK Regulation 40-5 requires all cats and dogs of owners under the SOFA to be microchipped. Many military installations and countries require this for pets as well. The microchip is about the size of a piece of rice and contains a unique number to your pet that is linked to your contact information online in a database. If your pet is gets separated from you for any reason and taken to animal control or a veterinary clinic, they can scan your pet and contact you.

·        Vaccination: Kittens and puppies should receive their first combination vaccine around 6 weeks old with boosters every 3-4 weeks. At 12 weeks of age, they can receive their first rabies vaccination. This first rabies vaccine is good for 1 year only.

All cats and dogs require a rabies booster every 3 years while in Korea.

This requirement varies in other countries and within different states and counties in the United States, so please check with your next duty site for requirements as soon as you receive your next assignment.

In addition, we currently recommend annual distemper combination vaccinations for all dogs and feline respiratory combination vaccinations for all cats. Cats at risk (as determined by the
veterinarian) should receive the feline leukemia vaccination as well.

Dogs that will be boarding, traveling, getting groomed, etc should receive bordetella (kennel cough) vaccinations every six months.

·        Testing: Heartworm testing is currently recommended annually for all dogs. Monthly heartworm preventative is highly recommended for dogs and cats. Feline leukemia/immunodeficiency test maybe recommended for high risk cats as determined by the veterinarian. Blood work, urinalysis, fecal exam for parasites, and additional laboratory testing is available either in house or via a laboratory in the United States.

·        Health certificates: Due to the paperwork and planning involved, health certificates are by appointment only. To take your pet to another country, your pet must have at minimum an up to date rabies vaccination (current but given at least 30 days prior to travel) and a health certificate valid for 10 days. Many locations (including but not limited to Europe, Japan, UK, Hawaii, Australia, Guam) have additional requirements, sometimes requiring up to 6 months of planning. Please check the website of the country you will be moving to for their specific requirements and plan accordingly. As our mission varies, please call several weeks prior to your departure date to schedule your pet's 10 day health certificate examination to ensure a veterinarian is available.

·        Surgery: Routine surgeries such as spays, neuters, basic mass removals, dental cleanings and extractions, and some other select surgeries are offered at the VTF. Surgeries are done on a waiting list basis, which at the current time is quite extensive do to demand and staffing. Animals must be registered, current on all vaccinations, microchipped, and have been seen at CRC VTF within the last year to be eligible for surgery.

·        Referral Services: USAG Yongsan Veterinary Treatment Facility is the referral clinic for all Army Veterinary Services in Korea. They provide advanced surgery and medical treatment. In addition, referrals can be made to specialists in Korea from any VTF.

·        Pet Adoption There are several animal shelters off-post including KARMA and ARK.  In addition, you may find pets that need to be re-homed on your local Facebook group.  The VTF does not recommend purchasing market or pet store animals due to a high occurrence of parvo and distemper (both highly contagious and sometimes deadly viruses. For your safety, please do not touch stray or feral animals; instead call the appropriate animal control authorities for your installation.

·        Retail Sales: The VTF sells retail and prescription animal care products such as heartworm prevention pills, flea and tick repellants, special diets, shampoos, ear cleansers, multivitamins, etc.

* Additional notes

Please contact the VTF to transfer ownership if you should give your pet to someone else.

If your pet is seen by an off base veterinarian for any reason, please bring us any Korean veterinary records (including vaccination history or medications).

Be sure to keep your pet’s NEO information up-to-date- contact us for more information.