The 2017 Iditarod Alphabet
D is for Dog Care

The dogs of the Iditarod are some of the best cared for dogs in the world.  Before the race each dog must be checked by a veterinarian.  The veterinarians check the dogs for many things including heart health, proper hydration, and weight. Then, along the trail there are 55 veterinarians, including chief vet Dr. Stu Nelson.  Nelson has been with the Iditarod for the last 25 years and is well trained in husky care.  The dogs of the Iditarod eat top of the line meat during the race; usually consuming about 10,000 calories per day while racing.     

D is for Dog Care

Growing up my family didn’t have a dog, but when I was 17 my brother brought his college dog

Dobson making “Snow Dog Angels”

home.  Dobson quickly became part of the family, and we loved having him around.  He was mischievous at times… breaking Christmas tree ornaments, escaping down the city street, and even eating a loaf of
mom’s famous Irish soda bread.  One of my favorite Dobson stories was one of the first times he saw snow.  Dobson spent most of his first 3 years in warm and sunny Arizona, so the Chicago snow was foreign to him.  His excitement for the snow was amazing!  During his prime he loved to jump around and try to catch the flakes as they fell!  It was such a joy to watch.

Just a dog and his snow!

When I think about the dogs of the Iditarod, I get that same feeling I had of watching Dobson play in the snow—they are just so very happy!  The dogs of the Iditarod love to run and play in the snow, and being in Alaska they get to do that often.  These dogs are so well cared for, and receive top notch veterinarian care both on and off the trail.  The dogs undergo EEG’s within 30 days of the start, and they must complete a full physical exam within two weeks of the start.

This year on the trail there will be over 50 veterinarians, and they will perform over 10,000 exams during the race.  Each musher is required to have a “Vet Book” in which all the information on their dogs is kept.  A musher must have this book with them at all times, and present it to a veterinarian at each checkpoint.  This allows the mushers and vets to keep track of each dog and provide the best care they can. 

The Iditarod takes great pride in the care the dogs receive, and that is very evident in the pre-screening and on the trail exams that the veterinarians perform. 

2016 Vet Check

2016 Vet Check

To learn more about dog care, visit the Vet Center of the Iditarod website.