Saddened by Unnecesary Death of Dog

[Nightwolf]

We had a dog once that just didn´t know when to stop running... He could have simply run himself to death without us realizing it... That type of dog is really a danger to itself because it´s so hard to spot that behaviour... You tend to think that everything is ok when the dog runs and pulls... We also had another dog in more recent years that also didn´t know when to stop but that dog experienced seizures when he got overworked... we had to stop using him in our team because it was impossible to predict his seizures... So, in my experience there is a certain personality type among sleddogs that simply works itself to death... and that is something that one has to be aware of... Both the dogs in question were wheel dogs... So, some dogs just don´t realize that pulling a sled is a team effort, and in a team it is hard to see who is pulling the most weight... it seems to me that especially wheel dogs can take it upon them self to pull far too much... And in a long race this is of course an even bigger problem, as the longer distances put more strain on the dogs, a dog that allready pulls a bit too much can thus push past its limits... This is a problem but you can´t do much, a dogs personality can´t be changed, the only thing you can do is to try and keep an eye on the dog in question...

[psfla]

. . . but holding it as a "race" is inhumane and cruel. . . acknowledge the cruelty of this and question the integrity of its participants.

I am an animal lover extraordinaire and find it cruel for those animals who are genetically geared for a certain activity to be denied the circumstances to engage in that activity. Jack Russell terriers are known high energy dogs, and to keep them 'cooped up in an apartment' is cruel. The thoroughbred horse is genetically wired to run at top speed. It would be absolutely cruel to prevent them from access to that activity. As would preventing these dogs to excercise their genetically wired desire to run . . . and run . . . and run . . . . and run . . . . . The mushers are the ones who are subjected to cruel and unusual punishment. The dogs would love nothing more than to keep on going. You have every right to express your "opinion", but those of us who know, realize that you know not of which you speak.

[snownose]

I totally agree with nightwolf's post.
One thing has to be remembered also, the time between eating a meal and digesting a meal and then having the dogs run again is not enough time in my opinion.

[alaskankristen]

One thing has to be remembered also, the time between eating a meal and digesting a meal and then having the dogs run again is not enough time in my opinion.

The rule of thumb for a full meal is normally around 2 hours. I don't know any mushers that do a full feeding and then expect their dogs to immediately start running (they'll just puke it up- lost calories and water).

[snownose]

One thing has to be remembered also, the time between eating a meal and digesting a meal and then having the dogs run again is not enough time in my opinion.

The rule of thumb for a full meal is normally around 2 hours. I don't know any mushers that do a full feeding and then expect their dogs to immediately start running (they'll just puke it up- lost calories and water).

I don't know the exact amount of food these dogs ingest, but several have died on the trail from aspiration (inhaling stomach content)

[leaddog]

Snonose, aspiration need not be due to food. In fact, it is better when it is food than the other choice - undiluted stomach acid (of course, not aspirating anything is the best option). When it is food, the aspiration is not as irritating. When it is acid, it is just as bad as you might imagine.
The aspiration deaths have had nothing to do with the time or volume of feeding relative to running. As previously posted, no one feeds a big meal then runs the dog, because the results are predictable and not what the musher is seeking:
1. The dogs waddle down the trail due to a full stomach
2. Dogs will be prone to vomiting, with the subsequent loss of food and water.

Also (and I hope this isn't too graphic), but vomiting isn't the problem - as everyone has experienced, vomit comes out fast and goes far (remember the Exorcist?). Regurgitation (wet belch) is the problem. Comes up slowly and remains long enough to get partially inhaled if the timing is wrong.

[HBSammy]

I think it is just as sad to watch some of the dogs left behind that didn't make the team for the race. They look more depressed than some dogs I've seen in shelters.

[2008 ITOTT]

You are so right! The dogs are often sad and a little confused as to why they are not part of their team and musher. Working with dropped dogs was one of my biggest joys last year on the trail. As I was leading them away from their teams, I was talking to and encouraging them as best I could. Then when I had them settled and fed, I would make sure to give them lots of pats and scratches, telling them they had done a good job and were getting to go home and rest. And, they are cared for diligently by trail volunteers until they get home.

In the end, it is a good thing that dogs are required to be and are able to be dropped. It keeps them safe and healthy.

[kmgrayphd]

The deaths of two more dogs this year--these near the end of the race--making a total of five, does make one very, very sad.

I noticed the statement of one musher about the Iditarod recommending Prilosec for the dogs to help prevent the bleeding ulcer problems that have caused some deaths in the past. It will be good if this results in a significant decline in those kinds of health problems and deaths, but it is unfortunate if the only way a race like this can be run is by medicating the dogs. I know, however, that my marathon-running friends also medicate themselves in various ways prior to their races and doing so may simply come with extreme activities like that.

But I'd like to see a lot more study of factors in the blood, and perhaps taking more samples during the race and studying them afterwards, making comparisons to dog's condition at the end of the race. We need to find ways of identifying dogs reaching their limits.

It's expensive to do that research and I'd be willing to contribute to a fund for such if the Iditarod started one. Or is there such a fund already? I know Dee Dee Jonrow started one for research on the stomach ulcer problems after she had a dog die from one.

I also wonder if one or more additional mandatory rests--especially when very harsh weather develops--might be necessary to prevent deaths. I know the mushers don't like anything that interfers with their individual strategies for winning, but I think they would agree to try something like that if it might reduce dog deaths.

We clearly need better ways of monitoring each dog's true condition, however. That seems to be a bottom line to me.

I'll be interested to see if the Iditarod looks seriously into new ways to prevent dog deaths. For the sake of these fine athletes and the activity that most so clearly love to do (and most of us here love to watch), it is crucial that we reach the goal of dog deaths being as rare as human deaths are in marathons--at least that rare if not even more so.
Karen

[leaddog]

It's expensive to do that research and I'd be willing to contribute to a fund for such if the Iditarod started one. Or is there such a fund already? I know Dee Dee Jonrow started one for research on the stomach ulcer problems after she had a dog die from one.

I'll be interested to see if the Iditarod looks seriously into new ways to prevent dog deaths. For the sake of these fine athletes and the activity that most so clearly love to do (and most of us here love to watch), it is crucial that we reach the goal of dog deaths being as rare as human deaths are in marathons--at least that rare if not even more so.

I think you might be thinking of Karen Ramstead, who started the Snickers Memorial Ulcer Research Fund a few years back after Snickers died of a gastric ulcer during the 2007 Iditarod. To the best of my knowledge, that fund is still active, and you can contribute through Karen's website (http://www.northwapiti.com). For the record, the Iditarod Trail Committee, as well as numerous mushers, have contributed resources to assist in the research into the gastric ulcer problem, and I suspect will continue to be active participants in the efforts to eliminate preventable deaths associated with the race.