AVMA and NAVTA clear Santa’s reindeer for annual flight

Photo courtesy of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Sandra Faeh, DVM, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, examines the reindeer Dasher during a visit to the North Pole.

Sandra Faeh, DVM, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and Jamie Rauscher, LVT, president of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), and representatives from the North Pole confirmed today that all of Santa Claus’s reindeer have bene approved for their upcoming flight on Christmas Eve.

Faeh and Rauscher traveled to the North Pole earlier this year to perform a series of critical health checks on the 9 reindeer to ensure they were healthy enough for their global journey. Faeh traveled to the North Pole earlier than normal this year because Claus noticed Dasher was not acting like himself and asked her to come check on him. Faeh had diagnosed him with keratitis, also known as pink eye, and prescribed him a treatment plan of eye drops, rest, and close monitoring by the elves and Claus himself.

“Dasher responded wonderfully to treatment and is back to his energetic leading role,” said Faeh, in an AVMA release.¹ “It’s always a privilege to care for these incredible animals, and it’s reassuring to know they’re all in peak condition for their important global journey.”

According to the AVMA, even though the association presidents traveled to the North Pole for Dasher’s health, they also conducted full-body examinations on all of the reindeer, looking for signs of injury, illness, or parasites that could harm them or animals they could encounter during their yearly travel. Faeh and Rauscher performed blood tests, x-rays, and inspections of their antlers, hooves, fur, and vital signs.

The AVMA team provided Claus with the official “North Pole Certificate of Animal Export” which is necessary for internal travel. The documents provided to Claus certified that all 9 reindeer met the global health standards and can safely cross borders.

"Veterinary technicians are an essential part of every veterinary team, and working with Claus’s reindeer is no exception," Rauscher explained. "From diagnostic tests to ensuring the reindeer’s comfort during exams, it’s rewarding to play a role in keeping them healthy for such a key voyage."

Faeh and Rauscher will return to the North Pole on Christmas Eve for one final preflight check of the reindeer and will examine them when they return home to the North Pole. The level of care provided to Claus’s reindeer by Faeh and Rauscher helps ensure that each reindeer is ready for the big night, but also protected from the risk of spreading or contracting diseases during the voyage.

“Without my reindeer, there would be no Christmas, and without veterinarians, my reindeer wouldn’t be ready for the big night. [Sandra] and Jamie are truly on my ‘nice list’ this year!" Claus said.¹

The trip to the North Pole also helps demonstrate the important contributions veterinarians and veterinary technicians do for animal and public health. For those who want to also support the reindeer, Faeh and Rauscher noted that they can leave graham cracker cookies, the reindeers favorite treat, on Christmas Eve to provide them a ‘tasty energy boost.’

The AVMA also shared that although there can only be 1 veterinarian and 1 veterinary technician on the official team at the North Pole, veterinary officers can help the cause by becoming a volunteer with Santa’s emergency staff on Christmas Eve. The AVMA has badges that professionals can download to help clients know they are on Santa’s Emergency Landing and Veterinary Expert System support team.¹

Reference

AVMA: Santa’s reindeer pass annual veterinary exam, cleared for flight. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. December 16, 2024. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://www.avma.org/news/press-releases/avma-santas-reindeer-pass-annual-veterinary-exam-cleared-flight