By paNOW

Canine checkups signal start to Canadian Challenge

Feb 19, 2018 | 5:40 PM

Kate Robinson carefully places her hands around the torso of a dog and lets it take a few breaths. She feels around its back and neck. She then gently extends its legs back and forth with her hands around the joints.

Robinson is the head veterinarian for the Canadian Challenge sled dog race and was one of a handful of veterinarians picking up a stethoscope to examine each dog involved in the upcoming 270-mile trek during pre-race vet checkups Monday.

While the examinations may be brief compared to a typical pet visit to a clinic, they are quite in-depth and are valuable to ensure each dog is healthy and prepared to hit the trials.

“We don’t want to send anybody out that is not ready or healthy enough,” Robinson said.

Each canine undergoes various tests that include a listen to the heart and lungs alongside joint and muscle checks in the neck, back and legs to monitor for any swelling or pain. Paws, pads and the web between the dog’s toes are also examined to guarantee no pre-existing injuries are present that could hamper the dog’s ability to run.

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“We expect everybody to be healthy at the pre-race check,” Robinson explained, “But it also gives us a good baseline to know of any mild things that are already present that we need to keep an eye on as the race progresses.”

Robinson said it is rare for a dog to come through testing and be knocked out of the race. She said any injury would have to be quite significant.

“It really is a case by case basis,” she said. “Much like human athletes, they can perform through some of these things.” 

While she added the organization would never “push them to do so,” she made note, “sometimes we see a swollen joint but they might be pain-free.”

“Once we get going, there are mandatory checks along the trail and if we find any significant sore spots or reactions to joint palpation, that could be a reason for the dog being dropped,” she added.

Despite the current frigid temperatures expected to hold on for much of the race, Robinson said the weather is nearly ideal. She said temperatures ranging between -10 and -30 before the wind chill is actually quite comfortable for the dogs.

“If it gets too cold, our main concern is frostbite, especially in areas where they don’t have enough fur,” she said. “It takes energy to keep warm and keep working in those extreme temperatures.”

But the opposite can be worse, according to Robinson, who said when the mercury rises above -10, overheating becomes a glaring concern.

However, Robinson assured “these dogs are extremely well cared for,” saying the mushers and handlers put the dog first way ahead of themselves.

“These dogs love what they do,” she added.

The 21st rendition of the Canadian Challenge will begin Tuesday at noon from the Elk Ridge Resort. The 12-dog teams run north of La Ronge to Grandmother’s Bay and Stanley Mission and back to La Ronge. 

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr