JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Whether it’s giving an examination or shot for the family pet or a military working dog, Joint Base San Antonio veterinary treatment facilities provide care to the pets of active-duty members and their families and animals who are vital to the mission of the military.
Veterinary treatment facilities at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, JBSA-Lackland and JBSA-Randolph provide services to keep animals healthy and to prevent or treat sickness and diseases early on, said Capt. (Dr.) William Baskerville, JBSA Veterinary Services section officer in charge.
“Our main goal is preventative medicine,” Baskerville said. “When we do preventative medicine we are trying to catch the disease process early on. It helps the pets; they live longer, healthier lives.”
Capt. (Dr.) Daniela Roberts, Army Public Health and Animal Medicine South Texas Branch Veterinary Services chief, said services at JBSA veterinary treatment facilities include wellness examinations, vaccinations, heartworm testing, feline leukemia/feline immunodeficiency virus testing, microchipping and fecal parasite examinations. Also, veterinarians can conduct diagnostic testing for ear infections, skin infections, allergies, fecal and blood work and health certificate examinations for international travel for pets.
The treatment facilities have heartworm, tick and flea medications pet owners can purchase for their pets.
Veterinarians and animal care specialists provide care for military working dogs – including semi-annual wellness exams, urgent and emergency care needs, dental cleanings and surgeries – stationed throughout South Texas at all three treatment facilities, as well as military working horses at the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Veterinary Treatment Facility.
X-rays, in-house blood work, sedation for diagnostic procedures and reproductive surgeries for privately owned animals are conducted at the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Veterinary Treatment Facility.
Roberts said veterinarians also take care of animals who live at the Quadrangle at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, including deer, peacocks, geese and ducks. These animals receive wellness and routine care and urgent/emergent care.
“All of these animals receive full medical care within our clinic capability at the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Veterinary Treatment Facility,” she said.
There are 17 staff members at JBSA Veterinary Services, including military and civilians. There are three veterinarians, including Baskerville and Roberts, and six animal care specialists who rotate and work at all three veterinary clinics. There is one civilian staff member at the JBSA-Randolph clinic, three at JBSA-Lackland, including one civilian veterinarian, and five at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston.
Pet owners can schedule an appointment for their pet by calling the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Veterinary Treatment Facility at 808-6101/6104, JBSA-Lackland Veterinary Treatment Facility at 671-3631 or the JBSA-Randolph Veterinary Treatment Facility at 652-3190.
Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Veterinary Treatment Facility; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, JBSA-Lackland Veterinary Treatment Facility; and 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, JBSA-Randolph Veterinary Treatment Facility.
Roberts said pet owners should bring the pet’s medical records to their appointments, including vaccination history, medications and prescriptions and important medical history, so veterinarians can provide the best care to the pets.