Caring for Iditarod's athletes

MCGRATH -- Providing the power to drive sled and musher through the vast terrain of Alaska's interior, many Iditarod mushers contend that the dogs are the true athletes in the race.

Teams of 16 dogs charge from the starting line to begin the journey to Nome, but many are forced to drop out along the way due to illness or injury.

Because of the tremendous effort required by the dogs and the harsh conditions they must travel through, extensive examinations and care are provided to sled dogs before, during and after the race.

"All of the dogs get a physical and ECG (Electrocardiogram) to make sure they are healthy," said veterinary technician Leslie Burgard. "The tests are done a few days before the race."

In addition to the pre-race tests, identification requirements must be completed for each dog.

All dogs are injected with a microchip, usually behind the left ear, which can later be scanned to identify the dog and its owner.

During the race, 34 veterinarians are dispersed in teams of three or more to checkpoints along the way and later flown up the trail to ensure all checkpoints are covered. As mushers come through the checkpoints, the dogs are checked and treated as necessary.

"We check the dog's hydration, attitude, weight, feet, heart and lungs," said veterinarian Richard Long. "We also talk to the musher to see what help they might need with injuries or illnesses to the dogs."

Long, from Alberta, Canada, is serving in his second Iditarod, but has provided veterinary services in long-distance races since 1989.

According to veterinarian Ron Svec, dehydration and muscle problems are the typical ailments of the dogs running the Iditarod.

Each musher is required to maintain a dog care diary, which is a medical record of each of their dogs.

Veterinarians check diaries of each musher coming through the checkpoints.

Dogs that are not able to continue are dropped at the checkpoint for treatment and later returned to Anchorage.

When a dog is dropped from the team and left at a checkpoint, blood is drawn to analyze for treatment of the dog.

For this year's race, a full chemistry lab has been provided for use in McGrath and Unalakleet.

The lab contains an electrolyte and blood cell machine to check internal organ function and blood cell count.

"In past years, the blood had to be sent to Anchorage and tested," Burgard said. "With the equipment here, we can analyze the blood in about 15 minutes to help the vets decide the necessary treatment quicker."

Burgard, who came from State College, Pa., to contribute her expertise for the race, participated in the pilot study for the temporary lab that was set uplast year in McGrath.

"The blood work we did last year here [in McGrath] came out phenomenal considering what the dogs had been through to get here," she said.

Among the stringent qualifications required to be an Iditarod veterinarian, all candidates must have at least five years of clinical practice experience and previous experience working with racing sled dogs.