ID: Vet Checks

Thanks to Dr Dawn Brown, Vet Assistant Mara Renneberg and the whole team at North Pole Veterinary Hospital for doing our pre-Iditarod vet checks yesterday! 40 dogs in and out of the surgery could have been quite a disruption to normal service so we really appreciate how smoothly and seamlessly it all went.


Kodiak charms Dr Brown; Schmoe has range of motion tested

Each dog that starts the Iditarod will have passed through a rigorous testing regime to ensure they are fit to be there.

Yesterday's check was a thorough physical exam testing general attitude, vitals such as temperature and weight, listening to their heart and breathing plus for any musculo-skeletal including range of motion and any rubs or bumps. Vaccinations and worming status is checked to ensure everyone is fully covered. See right for the full list.

The results from yesterday are combined with the ECG and blood testing from late last week to give the Iditarod vet team a complete picture of every dog.

We took all our potential starters, including our "back-ups" to ensure that, come Monday, we have a big enough pool to choose from and we can get the healthiest, fittest teams out on the trail.


Ginger has range of motion tested; Violet patiently waits her turn with Aliy


Ginger plays "sled dog statue" for her heart check; Junior getting some love


Cayenne has her check while channelling her inner show-dog; good boy Kodiak