In some areas of the country, paramedics are undergoing elite training. They’re learning how to provide advanced field treatment to police dogs injured in the line of duty.

In addition to being wounded by suspects, police dogs can be hurt jumping over fences, landing on broken glass or being struck by a vehicle. Drug exposure is another danger.

EMTs who receive advanced training from veterinarians will be able to give IV treatments, remove fluid or air from a dog’s chest or administer Narcan to reverse an opioid overdose.

One obstacle to this lifesaving treatment is the scarcity of proper equipment and supplies. Emergency responders often rely on donations to buy K9 emergency field kits, each of which can cost several hundred dollars. But armed with the right tools and training, EMTs can buy time and save precious lives.