The American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) is hosting its annual ACVO & Epicur National Service Animal Eye Exam event during May. The ophthalmology service at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM) is participating in the event and will provide free eye screening examinations for certified Service Dogs. This includes K9 Officers, Military Dogs, Search and Rescue Dogs, as well as Service Dogs.
In an effort to promote the importance of eye health in animals that we, as a society depend on every day, UTCVM’s board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists invite the region’s service dogs and their handlers to participate. Our veterinary ophthalmology team is donating their time to provide complimentary eye exams for qualified animals Friday, May 6 beginning at 9 a.m. To qualify, dogs must be active “working dogs” that are certified by a formal training program or organization or currently enrolled in a formal training program. While we have set aside appointments for K9 officers, space is limited and appointments are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Registration is open until April 30th, and all Service Dog handlers must first pre-register the animal with the ACVO via on-line registration that opens April 1. An individual registration number and confirmation will be supplied to each participant. Once you have registered, you will be provided a number to call to reserve your appointment. This is necessary in order for ACVO to track the number of animals being served. Approximately 8,000 eye exams are provided across America, Canada, and Puerto Rico each May.
In conjunction with the event, the Canine Arthritis, Rehabilitation, Exercise, and Sports Medicine (CARES) service at UTCVM is also offering orthopedic and gait evaluations for qualified service and working dogs in an effort to try to keep them healthier longer, identify problems earlier to hopefully slow down, or arrest the progress of conditions.
Media will be invited to take photos during exams.
If you have questions after visiting www.ACVOeyeexam.org, please call (865) 974-8387 and ask to speak with LeAnn Hicks or Julie Price. Thank you for helping us promote veterinary eye health.
