Iditarod Veterinarians
Sarah, Cara, Raven
Mrs. Shrum's 5th grade
Sources:
www.iditarod.com
Guide to the Iditarod
Iditarod Dream
In the Iditarod ® there are extreme conditions such as below freezing weather. The dogs need lots of care. Dogs must be vaccinated, go through training, and are inspected before the race. Also, during the race, they are examined at all checkpoints. Mushers take vet courses in case an emergency happens and no vet is nearby.
Vets and mushers use vitamin E as medicine, and put ointment and booties on their paws. The mushers must wake up at 6:00 a.m. to take care of the dogs, such as feeding, cleaning, socializing, and training. They use vitamins to help prevent sickness and disease. They also put ointment on the places where the dogs' paws cracked. Vitamin E helps prevent damage in red blood cells, muscles, nerve cells, and other cells in the body. This is how vets take care of sled dogs.
TRUE & FALSE
They do not have extreme conditions in the Iditarod.
True
False
Dogs do not need a lot of care.
True False
Mushers have to wake up at 6:00 a.m. to take care of their dogs.
True
False
They put Vitamin E on the dogs' paws where they have cracked.
True
False
Mushers have to take care of dogs when vets are not nearby.
True
False