News and Information
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By Greg Closter DVM, Alaska SPCA Specific vaccination requirements have been established for all dogs racing in the Iditarod. As stated in Rule 40: All dogs entered in the race must be current on their vaccinations for distemper/hepatitis/lepto/parvo/parainfluenza (DHLPP), rabies, and injectable, nasal, or oral bordetella. Bordetella is often referred to as “kennel cough”. While …
By Lori E. Gordon, DVM Veterinary Surgical Care, Inc. MA Task Force 1 US&R Veterinary Officer, NVRT Veterinary Officer Let’s start with the basics. Neutering is the removal of an animal’s reproductive organ(s), all or most of them. Neutering refers to both males and females, though typically used for males while spaying refers to …
Iditarod is more than a race. It’s people, places and dogs. Each aspect adds immeasurable character to the Iditarod. Iditarod is all about the dogs yet we often know them only by how fast they ran and where they finished as a team. Certainly every musher could tell stories about every dog they’ve ever run. …
If asked what Iditarod is, you’d say it’s a 1,000-mile sled dog race that goes from Anchorage to Nome. Nice clean definition but there’s so much more to it than that. It’s PEOPLE, PLACES and DOGS! Here’s a story about an Iditarod PLACE. Skwentna at mile 67 of the Gold Trail Loop will be the …
If asked what Iditarod is, you’d say it’s a 1,000-mile sled dog race that goes from Anchorage to Nome. Nice clean definition but there’s so much more to it than that. It’s PEOPLE, PLACES and DOGS! Here’s a story about PEOPLE of the Iditarod. Iditarod has many legendary figures. Many have stood on sled runners …
Mushers have just completed food drops in both Fairbanks and Anchorage. Earlier in February straw was bagged and placed on pallets to be ready for shipping, likewise with HEET and lath. Preparations for Iditarod XLIX are moving along. As race fans, how are you preparing for the race? Since the first of the year there …
By Kimberly Henneman, DVM, DACVSMR (EQ, K9) Animal Health VIPS (Veterinary Integrative & Performance Specialists) Marathon or distance sled dogs run and pull sleds in a variety of conditions that include spending nights out on the trail. Sometimes those conditions can change quickly, going from sunny and above freezing to snowing and well below …
Over the last decade, as human diet trends have become more popular, so too have specialty pet foods. Just as people seek out the latest paleo, keto, or high-octane juice cleanse recipe, pet owners are also drawn to “premium,” or “holistic,” or “carnivore-based” diets. One of the most popular trends in the dog food market …
Most sled dogs are part of a kennel, with anywhere from 10 to over 100 huskies living in a dog yard. This is the environment that many people picture when they envision the living quarters of a typical sled dog. However, many people don’t know that sled dogs can be great indoor pets. You …