A service dog is a top-level athlete.

 They run over rubble, jump from helicopters, track explosives in overheated warehouses, or remain on high alert for hours in noisy and unpredictable environments.

Their bodies endure all of this for years.

These dogs are selected for their resilience, emotional control, and ability to continue working despite exertion.

These are essential operational qualities. But they have a medical downside: clinical signs of pain can be subtle, making early detection of injuries difficult.

It's not that the dog isn't suffering. It's that they don't always show it.

What the Data Says: A Body Under Constant Pressure

Studies on military service dogs provide a precise picture of what their bodies go through.

A cross-sectional study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA, 2024, n=126 US special forces dogs) tracked health events over 24 months.

Musculoskeletal conditions accounted for 15.9% of cases, but were responsible for 35.6% of total days unavailable, by far the most disabling category, ahead of neurological disorders (23%) and heatstroke (12.6%).

For risk factors, the study by Mey et al. (Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 2020) on 794 military dogs deployed in Iraq between 2003 and 2007 provides useful details:

20% of dogs (n=156) sustained an injury during their first deployment.

Identified risk factors included breed, age, and operational certification: Belgian Malinois and Labradors had higher odds of injury than German Shepherds, and older dogs had approximately 50% additional risk compared to younger ones (p=0.01), particularly for musculoskeletal lesions.

Regarding professional longevity, a recent analysis (Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2025) on the causes of discharge from service for US military dogs between 2019 and 2021 is particularly clear. Neuromusculoskeletal diseases accounted for 50% of the causes of discharge, of which 73.98% were purely musculoskeletal in nature.

The data converges: in service and working dogs, musculoskeletal injuries are not only common, they are among the leading causes of unavailability, discharge, and career termination.

Acute injuries exist, but orthopedic and spinal wear and tear heavily impacts professional longevity.

Most Frequent Injuries: An Overview

Acute Terrain-Related Injuries

Dogs deployed in conflict zones or natural disasters face direct traumatic injuries: open wounds, paw pad burns, lacerations, dental trauma. A study of 1,350 veterinary consultations in a war zone in Iraq (Takara & Harrell, JAVMA, 2014) shows that dermatological conditions accounted for 25% of consultations, soft tissue trauma 21%, and musculoskeletal conditions 14.3%. In the same population, explosions accounted for 22.3% of trauma mechanisms in special forces dogs.

Chronic Injuries Due to Intensive Use

This is where the fundamental problem lies.

It's not an explosion that ends the career of the majority of service dogs: it's progressive joint and spinal wear and tear.

Limb osteoarthritis, degenerative lumbosacral stenosis, and disc diseases are the major contributors. The reference study by Moore et al. (JAVMA, 2001, n=927) remains foundational: the main causes of death or euthanasia in military dogs were limb osteoarthritis, neoplasms, spinal cord diseases, non-specific geriatric decline, and gastric dilatation-volvulus.

This reality is not unique to military dogs.

A longitudinal study of 323 New Zealand working dogs (Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2020) reported that 57% of dogs developed at least one musculoskeletal abnormality during the follow-up period, corresponding to 4.1 affected dogs per 100 dog-months at risk.

It is chronic, progressive, and cumulative conditions that dominate in these populations, not isolated accidents.

The Specific Case of Lumbosacral Stenosis

The German Shepherd, an emblematic breed for operational work, is particularly affected by degenerative lumbosacral stenosis, a progressive compression of the nerves at the junction between the last lumbar vertebra and the sacrum. This pathology develops slowly, remaining silent for a long time before causing difficulties in jumping, climbing stairs, or getting up.

In service dogs, behavioral signs such as refusal to perform certain tasks can be the first alert.

Behavioral problems have been associated with multisegmental lumbosacral stenosis in military dogs, and these behavioral manifestations sometimes constitute the only early clinical signs available. The association between behavioral disorders and spinal involvement is currently under investigation in several recent studies.

The Less Visible Dimension: Post-Traumatic Behavioral Disorders

It is rarely discussed, yet it is documented.

Persistent behavioral disorders have been observed in deployed military dogs: hypervigilance, avoidance, reactivity to loud noises, loss of work motivation.

The term "Canine Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" (C-PTSD) was formalized in American military dogs starting in 2010, after reviewing cases presenting behavioral syndromes correlated with most criteria of human PTSD.

C-PTSD is a rare but recognized problem in military dogs.

Its early recognition by handlers and veterinarians can enable its prevention or treatment. In some cases, retirement from military service is an integral part of the treatment.

The prevalence remains limited in structured military populations.

However, field reports from associations suggest that contract dogs, with less veterinary and behavioral supervision, may be more exposed. This data is based on field observations rather than controlled studies: it deserves to be mentioned with this caveat.

Care: Between Protocol and Field Reality

In the Acute Phase

Acute traumatic injuries are managed by military veterinarians integrated into the units. Emergency protocols have advanced, with canine medical evacuations organized according to a triage system comparable to that for human combatants. Early management remains crucial for the functional prognosis.

For Chronic Orthopedic Lesions

Functional rehabilitation (hydrotherapy, physical therapy, electrostimulation) is used in military veterinary centers. The main American center, Lackland Military Hospital (Texas), has dedicated rehabilitation equipment.

The goal of a conditioning program is to maximize the dog's physical condition and improve both cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems, with progressive increases in duration, frequency, and intensity of exercises to allow tissue adaptation.

The management of chronic joint pain uses the classic veterinary therapeutic arsenal: prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), joint supplements as part of long-term follow-up, and active rehabilitation techniques.

Thermotherapy, well-documented in the management of canine osteoarthritis, is also applicable in these contexts. For these specific approaches, see the articles on canine thermotherapy and joint supplements on this blog.

For Post-Traumatic Behavioral Disorders

Progressive desensitization, controlled exposure to anxiogenic stimuli, and in resistant cases, medication support under veterinary supervision (trazodone, fluoxetine) may be considered.

Treatment does not aim to erase the traumatic experience but to allow the dog to function properly while maintaining their well-being.

Retraining: When the Mission Changes Nature

Not all service dogs can resume their initial activity after an injury.

Some may be redirected to less physically demanding missions: static detection, controlled environment work, animal-assisted therapy.

Retraining requires an individualized and honest assessment of residual capabilities.

It is not suitable for all dogs: those with a very high drive level may poorly tolerate a reduction in activity, and relative inactivity can generate more frustration than relief.

Retirement: An Underestimated Well-Being Issue

This is probably the most neglected part of a service dog's life.

For years, these dogs have operated within a highly structured framework: fixed schedules, intense activity, strong bond with their handler. Retirement represents a radical break. Without preparation, it can lead to anxiety, behavioral depression, and rapid deterioration of general condition.

Health-related causes of retirement are well documented.

In British guide dogs, musculoskeletal conditions, primarily arthritis, were the most frequent cause of retirement for health reasons, accounting for 28% of cases (Caron-Lormier et al., Veterinary Journal, 2016, n=1,362).

In New Zealand police dogs (Worth et al., Animal Welfare, 2013), degenerative musculoskeletal disease was the main cause of leaving active duty.

Returning to a Civilian Home

Since 2000 in the United States, a law (National Defense Authorization Act) authorizes handlers and civilians to adopt retired military dogs.

This return to the handler's home is often the best-case scenario: the bond is already established, the environment known. But it's not always possible.

The Specific Needs of a Retired Service Dog

A retired service dog is not an ordinary pet.

They often present chronic joint pain requiring regular veterinary follow-up, conditioned reflexes that can lead to inappropriate reactions in mundane civilian situations, a high need for mental stimulation even if physical activity is reduced, and sometimes behavioral sequelae related to accumulated stress.

Adapting the living environment (non-slip surfaces, orthopedic bedding, easy access to resting areas), continuing an adapted exercise program, and geriatric sports veterinary follow-up are the pillars of a successful retirement.

What an Active Dog Owner Can Take Away From This

This topic directly concerns working dogs in the strict sense, but it resonates with any owner of a sporty or very active dog. The mechanisms of joint wear, subtle pain signals, the transition between an intense life and a reduced pace: these questions arise for any dog that works its body.

A dog that does not show pain is not necessarily a dog that does not have it. It may simply be a dog with a high threshold for expressing it.

To Go Further with Canithermo

At Canithermo, we focus precisely on this area: between performance and joint well-being, between activity and recovery.

Thermal clothing, the Canithermo Mobility range, and support for joint quality of life are also for working and service dogs and their owners. Do you have a service, working, or sport dog?

Share your experience with us: contact@canithermo.com

Sources 

1. Harroun-White HE, Facciolla CA, Knobbe MG. Noncombat injury and illness prevalence and working score percentage quantify the impact on duty availability in US Army Special Operations military working dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2024;262(9):1209-1214. PMID: 38729211

2. Mey W, Schuh-Renner A, Anderson MK, Stevenson-LaMartina H, Grier T. Risk factors for injury among military working dogs deployed to Iraq. Prev Vet Med. 2020;176:104911. PMID: 32066025

3. Moore GE, Burkman KD, Carter MN, Peterson MR. Causes of death or reasons for euthanasia in military working dogs: 927 cases (1993-1996). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2001;219(2):209-14. PMID: 11469577

4. Takara MS, Harrell K. Noncombat-related injuries or illness incurred by military working dogs in a combat zone. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2014;245(10):1124-1128. PMID: 25356712

5. Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2025). United States military working dogs from 2019 to 2021: analysis of causes of service discharge and decreased service life. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1580628

6. Isaksen KE et al. TeamMate: A Longitudinal Study of New Zealand Working Farm Dogs. II. Occurrence of Musculoskeletal Abnormalities. Front Vet Sci. 2020;7:624. PMC7596175

7. Caron-Lormier G, England GCW, Green MJ, Asher L. Using the incidence and impact of health conditions in guide dogs to investigate healthy ageing in working dogs. Vet J. 2016;207:124-130. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.10.046

8. Worth AJ et al. Causes of loss or retirement from active duty for New Zealand police German shepherd dogs. Anim Welf. 2013;22:166-173. doi: 10.7120/09627286.22.2.167