NEWS RELEASE
Texas Animal Health Commission
Box l2966 *Austin, TX 78711 *1-800-550-8242, x710 * FAX (512) 719-0719
Terry Beals, DVM* Executive Director
Our articles usually deal with serious topics. While this holiday story is
a different "vein," the regulatory and disease information is factual. As
for flying reindeer... well, you DO believe in Santa, don't you???? Carla
Everett, info officer.
For Immediate Release*Santa's Reindeer Get Top-Notch Care
You can just bet, that at the North Pole, two of Santa Claus' right-hand
helpers are a veterinarian and an animal health inspector. It only makes
sense, because, while elves fashion toys, dress dolls and paint racing
stripes on new toy cars, the animal doctor stays occupied, ensuring Santa's
eight tiny reindeer are properly fed, cared for when they're sick, and are
prepared for that all-important all-night flight Christmas Eve.
"Flying reindeer require special care," said Dr. Max Coats, deputy director
of Animal Health Programs for the Texas Animal Health Commission, and a
reindeer specialist. "Rudolph has special nutritional requirements to keep
his nose glowing. And the veterinarian enlists elves to craft special
booties to protect dainty hooves from injury on rough rooftops. The animal
health inspector carefully examines the harnesses and rigging for the
sleigh, so each reindeer will soar safely and comfortably."
Throughout the year, Santa's veterinarian checks with other animal doctors
at the North Pole, who observe wild or captive reindeer in other herds for
signs of Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD. This rare infection, which has
never been seen at the North Pole (or in Texas), ruins a deer's chance of
flying again, because the disease affects balance and coordination. "But,
CWD is a reportable disease, so surveillance is required. A case of CWD at
the North Pole could wreck Santa's transportation system," said Dr. Coats.
As early as Halloween, Santa's vet begins to prepare for the big flight.
Each deer is tested for tuberculosis (TB), a bacterial disease. The
animals will have two TB tests, at least 90 days apart, said Dr. Coats.
This will ensure that states and countries around the world won't keep
Santa from his appointed rounds. Just days before the flight, the vet will
draw a blood sample to test for brucellosis, another bacterial disease.
"If you've ever seen all the sacks and packages in Santa's sleigh, you can
guess that at least one bag is full of the pile of paperwork needed to make
the flight," Dr. Coats moaned. "Every country has entry regulations and
some require special tests. Then there are the copies of the certificates
of veterinary inspection, or 'health paper' Santa has to carry for the
deer. Because nearly every state requires an entry permit for reindeer,
the vet and animal health inspector will call ahead to gather the special
coded numbers they'll copy onto the health papers."
As if this isn't enough, the vet has to make special arrangements for the
reindeer to come home Christmas morning. After all, said Dr. Coats, the
deer have been to so many places, there's always a remote chance they could
have been exposed to a disease or
pest. "The veterinarian and inspector request special rule waivers, so the
reindeer can be quarantined in their own stalls, until they get follow-up
health exams."
"To add to the responsibilities," commented Dr. Coats, "Santa's diet
usually fails sometime in July, so each year, the veterinarian, animal
health inspector and most of the elves team up to hoist the "big guy" into
his sleigh. There's been talk of adding two deer to the string to pull
the extra weight. Gee, it's no surprise that, every couple of years,
veterinary journals run a notice, advertising for a new North Pole doctor.
Next to painting those racing stripes in a straight line, the veterinarian
and animal health inspector have the toughest jobs at the Pole."
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