A Day In The Life Of An Iditarod Veterinarian

 

 

Friday, February 25, 2000   6:37 p.m.

          The veterinary team just arrived at the race starting point and we are currently setting up in a local store.  Dr. S and myself are just about ready to join the other rookies for our required ISDVMA Sled Dog Veterinarian Training Course.  After that we are going to have some dinner and then hit the sack.  We have an early day tomorrow and we need our rest.

 

                                                                                      -LP

 

Friday, February 25, 2000 8:15 p.m.

          We just got back from our ISDVMA meeting.  We were given a packet about 50 pages thick from the chief veterinarians and we have to have it read and have a packet of questions completed by Sunday, not too bad.  Much better than Vet. School!  It’s getting  late and I need to get up REALLY early tomorrow.

 

                                                                                      -SS

 

Saturday, February 26, 2000   7:56 a.m.

          I am SO tired!  We had to get up at the crack of dawn.  It is really cold.  The temperature dropped to 20 below last night!  Can you believe it?  Anyway, the first teams should be getting in later this afternoon and we will be starting examinations and then sending the dogs inside for their deworming treatment.  When we do our examinations, all the rookies are required to work with another rookie, at least for the first few days or so.  I am partnered with Dr. S.  I have finished about half of the information and questions packet we got last night.  Along with the packet and a letter from the chief veterinarians, we got our own clipboard with pre-race, checkpoint, and post-race examination forms.  We also got Examination items (gloves, needles  and other medical instruments.) and the forms for our “patients.”  We have all been assigned to several different patients on several different teams and we got all their forms to review before we examine them. 

                                                                             -LP

 

 

 

Saturday, February 26, 2000   3:17 p.m.

          Today was the first day of examinations.  Boy is it going to be tough!  We have 27 examinations to do and we have such a short amount of time!  Although it is going to be difficult and extremely nerve-racking, it bet it’s going to be really fun!  I am SO tired, and I have such an early morning tomorrow.  I need to get some rest and I still have to finish the last few pages of my packet.

 

                                                                                      -LP

 

Saturday, February 26, 2000 9:25 p.m.

          The first 3 teams have just arrived and we are about to start examinations.  I am partnered with Dr. P, who is also a rookie.  We have 27 examinations to do in only a few hours.  After we finish those, we need to head back to “camp” and eat dinner.  I am going to try to get the last few pages of my packet completed by tonight, that way I don’t have to worry about it tomorrow.  Anyway, Dr. P is ready to start and we  need to get going.

 

                                                                                      -SS

 

Sunday, February 27, 2000  12:19 p.m.

          We started really early this morning and it has been non stop examinations until now!  I think I am getting the hang of the examination routine.  Of course, just in case I forget something, I can always look at the chart in the “examination room.” There is so much involved in the pre-race examinations including:

1.   collecting all the medical papers

2.   making  sure the deworming requirements have been completed

3.   check pre-race ECGS test results

4.   Making sure the pre-race blood work is completed

5.   I have to examine drug test results (if they were taken)

6.   As part of the physical exam, I have to check:

·         hydration levels- dehydration must be less than 5%

·         Body weight- must make sure body weight is in the right category for breed standard and size

·         heart rate- the heart rate must be equal to or less than 120 beats per/min.-normal rhythm

·         respiratory rate- less than or equal to 15 breaths per/min-normal rate

·         temperature- 100.5 F to 102.5 F-normal temp.

·         mucous membrane exam- CTR test

·         locomotion exam- no lameness or stiffness of the joints

I also have to examine the skin for flakiness and the feet for proper nail care.  I have to examine their posture for any spinal disorders.  I also have to examine the cargo the musher is carrying.  I have to make sure there is enough food to last each dog at least 12 days in case of a snowstorm that immobilizes the team.  I also have to examine the dog supplies such as the doggie booties.  Each dog must have min. 8 booties.  That way when one set gets wet, they can change into another pair until the wet set dries.  Dr. S has been a great help and we work so well together.  Anyway, my lunch break is over and we still have tons more to do before the day ends.

 

                                                                                   -LP

 

Tuesday, February 29, 2000  10:47 a.m.

      We had such a busy day yesterday, I lost all track of time and when I finally crawled into bed, I fell asleep BEFORE my head hit the pillow.  The final teams arrived this morning, so we don’t have that many pre-race examinations to do, but we have to get ready for the start of the race.  We just had another vet meeting and we got a whole new booklet filled with even more questions than before.  This one tells all about dangerous injuries that occur when out in the snow for several hours in extreme conditions.  This packet is to prepare us for each checkpoint examination we will have to do, which will be a ton.  And we will be practicing on dummies for speed.  We have to finish the same amount of examinations in ¼ of the time.  Anyway, we have to get with our partners and do some training routines. And besides, if I don’t get over there quickly, Dr. P is going to start without me!

 

                                                                                   -SS

 

Thursday, March 2, 2000 1:38 p.m.

      All the teams are nearing to go.  I cant wait either!  Tomorrow we are going to get all the supplies packed up because right after the last team leaves, will be heading for the next checkpoint.  Dr. P and I will need to finish our packets then we have a few hours of free time.  The head veterinarians are awarding us for our excellent work this past week.  Anyway, we have a sick dog with probably a bad case of a cold that we must attend to before the race.  Of course, if it is not well we will have to fly it back to it’s home which is not too far from here. 

 

                                                                                   -SS

 

Saturday, March 4, 2000  11:29 a.m.

      IT’S THE BIG DAY!  The race will be starting any minute.  As soon as the last team leaves, all the staff jumps on a plane and we fly over to the first checkpoint.  As soon as we arrive at the checkpoint, we unpack only a few boxes of the necessities so we have less to pack when we head out for the next checkpoint.  I feel bad for one of the teams, though.  One of it’s best runners had a terrible case of the “doggie flu” as the head vets call it.  He (the dog) has to fly back to the kennel where one of it’s owner is.  She is going to try to nurse him back to health in time to see the teams come in at the end of the race at Nome.  Oh, I have to go.  They are getting ready to start!

 

                                                                                   -LP

 

Monday, March 6, 2000  1:34 a.m.

      Oh, I am so TIRED!  The first team arrived a few minutes ago and they woke us up so we could get started on checkpoint examinations.  Dr. P and myself have the first team.  We have a lot to do for this examination, but not as much as the pre-race examination.  We have to:

1.   check the musher/dog diary and if there are any problems noted, we MUST look into them.

2.   must do a mini-physical examination which includes:

·         temerature

·         heart rate

·         hydration

·         respiratory exam

·         weight

We also have to look over the areas that are prone to frostbite and infections from cuts.  We then put medication on the paws, ears, and muzzle to prevent injury.  The team and Dr. P are ready to begin examinations and hopefully finish them before the next team gets in.

 

                                                                                      -SS

 

Thursday, March 9, 2000   2:31 p.m.

          We have been SO busy for the last few day, packing then traveling from one checkpoint to another, then unpacking, then trying to get some sleep, only to be awakened in the early morning to do lots of examinations, then trying to get back to sleep only to be awakened again, pack up and travel to the next checkpoint.  The process has continued in a circle for the last 4 days.  It seems like this will never end!  The last few teams are leaving and we are just finishing packing up.  We will be leaving in about an hour for the next checkpoint.

 

                                                                                      -LP

 

Saturday, March 11, 2000  10:23 p.m.

          It had been the toughest week of my life (except for mid-term week).  We have early mornings and no more than 6 hours of sleep a day!  Although it has been extremely cold, the dogs have been great!  There has been nothing more serious than a slight case of frostburn, which has not reached the stage of frostbite yet.  The work has been hard, yet at the same time easy.  We know what we are doing and we are confident and that is such a great feeling.  Anyway, I am starving and I NEED some breakfast.

 

                                                                                       -SS

 

Tuesday, March 14, 2000   6:17 p.m.

          I am about to hit the hay because I know that I will be getting up in a few hours and I want to be somewhat rested and alert.  We have been up to our ears in work.  Besides doing examinations in the early morning, we do several other tasks in the afternoon, if we don’t need to tend to any dogs.  We have had free time, but we have also been making up some informational posters to hang in the work stations for next year’s rookies.  The head veterinarians have also been working very hard to get the list of next year’s veterinarians together.  All the veterinary staff must be chosen by September of the previous year.  Oh, one of the mushers needs me to take a look at their dog.

 

                                                                                      -LP

 

 

 

Wednesday, March 15, 2000  4:22 p.m.

          So far 7 teams have dropped out.  There is a huge storm on it’s way and that will definitely put the remaining teams back several hours.  We have had more severe cases of illness on the trail now that it is getting into the harsher parts of the race.  We had one dog with severe pneumonia and two other dogs, a brother and a sister, who are having some trouble eating and holding it down.  They have lost a lot of weight.  We are flying all three of the dogs back to Anchorage, but we are afraid they may not make it there.  Oh no!  They have just brought in a dog who is on the verge of dying!  Dr. S is motioning me over.  Oh, I hope it’s alright!

 

                                                                                      -LP

 

Wednesday, March 15, 2000  8:36 p.m.

          Today has been such a tough day.  First three dogs are sent back to Anchorage hanging between life and death and now one dog has died!  A dog on the verge of death was rushed to the station and we all tried as hard as we could to save it, but it had dangerous hypothermia and was in shock when it arrived.  We couldn’t save it!  When the musher got word of the death of his dog, he ordered an autopsy and a necropsy done on his dog.  He said she was fine and then, suddenly she collapsed.  She had been eating right and had always been healthy.  In some ways, I feel responsible for her death.  Dr. P and the other vets told me not to blame myself and that these things happen, but I still feel guilty, like I could have done something more.  Right now Dr. Moran, the chief vet here, who is also trained in the autopsy and necropsy procedures is conducting them right now.  I am beat and I want to get some rest.  The next few days are going to be hectic with the teams nearing the finish line.

 

                                                                                                -SS

 

Saturday, March 18, 2000 3:47 p.m.

          Another early morning, except this time a huge snow storm rolled in which will push the team back about 4 hours.  The closest team is about 110 miles away from Nome and should get here some time late tomorrow.  On the bright side, all three dogs that we sent back to Anchorage made it and the vets are expecting full recoveries.  As for the results from the autopsy and necropsy, the dog died from acute phenomena and extreme hypothermia.  By the time we found her, there was nothing anyone could do.  I feel terrible, but the ones who are taking it the hardest are Dr. S and the musher who owned the dog.  I wish we could have done more, but dogs dying on the trial is not uncommon.  In fact, the death rate is .2, not to bad actually.  Well the storm is lightening, so we will be heading too Nome in about an hour and a half.

 

                                                                                                -LP

 

Saturday, March 18, 2000  10:56 p.m.

          We arrived in Nome early this morning and have been unpacking.  We will have to do tons of post-race examinations and we need all of our supplies at our fingertips.  The closest team is about 75 miles away and we are all anxiously awaiting their arrival..  The first dog we sent home for the mild case of the flu has come back, hopefully to see it’s team become victorious.  The other three dogs we sent home plan on being here but they will be waiting from inside the “clinic.”  No one is taking any chances.  It’s getting late, but we are all TOO excited to sleep.  Oh, they have just announced that the first team is about 50 miles away.  I cant miss this.

 

                                                                                      -SS

Sunday, March 19, 2000 4:28 a.m.

          The first team arrived about two hours ago.  We have completed our post-race examination which includes:

1.   Physical examination

·         temerature reading

·         heart rate and blood pressure

·         respiratory check

·         hydration check

·         body weight

2.   We also take a look at the musher/dog diary and look over any areas the musher noted as “vet check items.”

All the dogs will be resting today and being pampered enough to last them a life time.  As for us, we will be packing up after all the examinations are completed and going home.  I am sorry it’s all over.  I really enjoyed the learning experience and would love to do it next year. Dr. S is also interested in coming back next year.  I really like the idea that I tracked my experience to read it one day.  Oh, another team just pulled in.  Back to work!

-LP