Community · Partnership · Working Dogs · As Seen on KFOR News 4
Pawprint Oxygen and Veterinary Emergency Group OKC donate 15 rescue oxygen kits and train nine OBN handlers — then, days later, one of those kits is used when a K9 officer overheats during field training.
Every day, the dogs of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics put their noses — and their lives — on the line alongside their handlers to keep Oklahoma communities safe. They work long days in demanding conditions, often in the field, far from any veterinary support.
What happens when one of those dogs needs help right now?
That question is what brought Pawprint Oxygen to Oklahoma City this month. We donated 15 canine rescue oxygen kits to the OBN canine team and partnered with Veterinary Emergency Group Oklahoma City to deliver a full day of CPR and trauma first aid training for nine of the team's handlers.
We left feeling proud. Then, just a few days later, we got a message from the head training officer — and a photo that said everything.
One of the team's K9 officers had overheated during a day of field training under the Oklahoma sun. His handler — trained just days earlier — reached for his kit and used it, right there on site, exactly as he'd been trained to do.
We don't take that lightly. That's the whole reason we built this company.
The Photo That Says Everything
Photo courtesy of the Dan Evans , OBN head training officer — taken days after our training, during an actual field emergency. This K9 officer had overheated during training and was administered oxygen on site using the Pawprint kit his handler had received just days earlier.
This photo was sent to us by the OBN's head training officer, Dan Evans, shortly after our session wrapped. One of the team's Belgian Malinois had been working a full day of field training in the Oklahoma heat. His body temperature climbed. His handler recognized the signs — the same signs we'd walked through together just days before — and responded immediately.
No waiting. No panic. A trained handler, an open kit, and oxygen flowing within seconds.
The dog was stabilized on site and recovered. And we received one of the most meaningful messages we've ever gotten as a company.
Heat is one of the fastest-moving threats a working dog faces. Dogs dissipate heat far less efficiently than humans — during intense physical exertion in high temperatures, they can move from normal to critical in minutes. Supplemental oxygen in the field helps stabilize a dog's condition and buys critical time for transport to emergency veterinary care.
For more on recognizing heat-related distress in dogs, visit our Health Conditions FAQ or read our full guide: My Dog Is Having Trouble Breathing — What Do I Do?
As Seen on KFOR News 4 Oklahoma
This partnership was covered by KFOR News 4, Oklahoma's leading local news station. Watch the segment below — featuring Dr. Seth Hiddink, Medical Director of VEG ER for Pets, explaining the mission behind the donation and training program.
📺 As Seen On · KFOR News 4 Oklahoma ▶ "Firefighters get new tools to help K9 officers in the field" KFOR News 4 Oklahoma · Click to watch on KFOR.com
KFOR News 4 covered our partnership with Veterinary Emergency Group OKC. Watch the full segment at KFOR.com →
Nine Handlers. One Day. Skills That Held Up When It Counted.
The training day brought together nine OBN canine handlers for a session designed and led by the emergency veterinary team at Veterinary Emergency Group Oklahoma City. VEG is one of Oklahoma's most respected 24/7 emergency practices — and their expertise translated directly into field-ready knowledge for every handler in the room.
Handlers walked away knowing how to:
- Recognize early signs of respiratory distress, heat exhaustion, and oxygen deprivation in a working dog
- Perform proper canine CPR — compression rate, depth, rescue breathing rhythm, and when to begin
- Apply trauma first aid for field injuries including wound stabilization and management
- Correctly fit and operate the Pawprint rescue oxygen kit and mask for their specific dog's size
- Safely transport a dog on oxygen to the nearest emergency veterinary facility
"The goal is to get these dogs stabilized in the field and get them to our ER so we can get them treated." — Dr. Seth Hiddink, Medical Director, VEG ER for Pets
15 Rescue oxygen kits donated to Oklahoma K9 teams 9 OBN handlers trained in canine CPR & trauma first aid <1wk Time before a kit was used in a real field emergency
Our Partner: Veterinary Emergency Group Oklahoma City
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About Veterinary Emergency Group Oklahoma City
VEG Oklahoma City provides 24/7 emergency veterinary care with an open-concept hospital model — owners and handlers stay with their animals throughout treatment. Their team of emergency veterinarians treats everything from urgent care to complex surgical emergencies. If you're in the Oklahoma City area and face a pet emergency, VEG is available around the clock. Learn more at veg.com →
A Model We Want to Grow
Law enforcement K9 units, search and rescue teams, and animal rescue organizations across the country face the same reality: their dogs can encounter medical emergencies in the field, often far from immediate veterinary support, with handlers who have never been trained in what to do. This partnership is a model we hope to replicate nationwide.
If you work with or support a canine unit, search and rescue team, or animal rescue organization that could benefit from equipment and training, we'd genuinely love to hear from you. Reach out at info@pawprintoxygen.com or visit our EMS & Animal Rescue page.
Veterinary clinics and practices interested in stocking Pawprint Oxygen or referring patients can visit our For Vets page or our wholesale program.
What This Means for Your Pet at Home
The same kit an OBN handler used on his dog in the Oklahoma heat this week is available for every pet owner. Whether your dog has a diagnosed respiratory condition, you have a brachycephalic breed prone to overheating, or you simply want to be prepared — a Pawprint rescue oxygen kit puts that same capability in your hands.
No prescription required. Ships anywhere in the contiguous US. Weight-specific kits mean the right flow rate and mask size are already set for your pet — no guesswork. For pets managing longer-term conditions like congestive heart failure or pulmonary hypertension, our extended therapy bundles — including oxygen concentrators and oxygen chambers — bring veterinary-grade care into your home.
Questions? Browse our FAQ, visit our Resource Center, or call our team at 855-699-4366, Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm EST.
Be Ready Before You Need It
The same kit used by the OBN canine team in the field is available for your pet — no prescription needed, shipped directly to your door.
Related Resources
- Healthy Paws Blog — More pet health stories and guides
- Resource Center — In-depth guides on oxygen therapy and conditions
- Health Conditions FAQ — Condition-specific oxygen therapy guidance
- EMS & Animal Rescue — Solutions for professional rescue and K9 teams
- Customer Reviews — Real stories from pet owners who've used Pawprint
Working Dogs K9 Law Enforcement Oklahoma Canine First Aid Dog Overheating Dog CPR Rescue Oxygen KFOR News Community Partnership News
