DOGS AND DOCTORS

Friday, March 14, 7 p.m.

An Iditarod Vet examines the hips of one of Robert Sorlie’s champion dogs in Anvik checkpoint .

THE VETERINARY RESEARCH PROGRAM
GOOD-BYE FROM BILL



THE VETERINARY RESEARCH PROGRAM

I finally caught up with Stu Nelson, DVM, Head Veterinarian of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. He and I have been seeing one another briefly along the trail, promising each other we’d sit down to continue the discussion we began last year in Galena. Last year I wrote about the veterinary research being conducted in conjunction with the Race. And I wanted to discover what has been learned through this research, and what projects are being carried out in follow-up.

I not only got a chance to sit down with Stu, but also with Dr. Mike Owens and Dr. Mike Willard, who are the actual investigators performing the research. In this update, I’ll try to summarize what is being done, outline the background for this research, and report what the tentative conclusions are.

Ulcers

Starting a few years ago, Race vets began to get the impression that ulcers were common in the Iditarod’s dogs. But it wasn’t clear if racing sled dogs actually got ulcers more often than ‘couch potatoes”, or whether it was simply that these athletes were under such close scrutiny.

The year before last a pilot study was funded to perform examinations of our dogs’ stomachs using flexible, fiberoptic endoscopes, just as are used on people. The rate at which sled dogs form ulcers was compared to the rate of ulcers found in ill dogs referred for stomach scoping at Texas A & M University. The general impression of Race vets was confirmed: sled dogs seem to form ulcers more readily than healthy dogs, or even the general population of ill dogs.

Last year a controlled study was undertaken to find out if something could be done to prevent this ulcer formation. Three Iditarod teams participated. In each team, half the dogs were treated with omeprazole, and half with placebo. Many humans also take omeprazole to cure or prevent ulcers. For people, the drug goes by the brand name Prilosec.

It turned out that the dogs who took the actual drug had significantly fewer ulcers than those who took the placebo. And if ulcers actually did form, they tended to be milder. This was proved by actually performing endoscopic exams on each of the canine subjects enrolled in the study. But that procedure involves general anesthetic, expensive equipment, and a whole staff of specialists to accomplish.

In order to expand this research, and answer other important questions concerning the cause, treatment, and prevention of ulcers in sled dogs, a simpler way is needed to determine which dogs may have problems with their stomach linings. A blood test would be ideal.

And that is the focus of this year’s research: to determine if a simple blood test does indeed give an accurate indication of which dogs have either actual ulcers, or more superficial irritation of the mucous membrane lining the stomach. If a simple test can be found which might replace formal endoscopy, then other questions can be researched, such as: is one medicine better than another; what dose of any given drug is best; and are there side effects or dangers to the treatment?

At this time it is not known if many mushers are using omeprazole during the race. It is not a banned substance, since there is no reason to believe it will artificially enhance performance, or cause any significant harm to our beloved dogs. But it is not included in the drugs tested for by the random drug-testing program. And I have not been asking the mushers about this along the trail.

Asthma

Two years ago, when the large number of dogs underwent endoscopic exam of their stomach, the research team also performed a test called bronchoscopy. This used another, even smaller diameter, fiberoptic scope to look into the bronchial tubes within the lungs.

In general the sled dogs arriving in Nome do have increased mucus secretion and a certain degree of inflammation in the lining of these small tubes, which carry air into and out of the lungs. These findings are like those in athletes who have a condition called “exercise induced asthma.” Dr. Davis has received a grant from the Department of Defense to study this phenomenon. The military, of course, has many athletic recruits exerting themselves very strenuously, and often in cold air. So it hopes to learn from Dr. Davis’ research facts that will help them prevent or treat this problem in humans.

The Research Team

Dr. Davis told me that Iditarod Race Marshal, Mark Nordman, plans to put together a kennel of sled dogs, which will be used for further research in these areas, and probably others, as well. Mark will be putting up a home in the Denali Park area this summer, which will be an ideal area to raise and train sled dogs. Most mushers who race professionally are understandably reluctant to have their dogs used for research purposes – during a race in particular. But Mark has offered to utilize his dogs to benefit dogs in general – not just sled dogs. And facts learned in this research may prove to be of benefit to human also.

I think this is a wonderful idea. In fact, I had developed that concept in my own mind years ago, and even mentioned it to Dr. Nelson at one point. Apparently the seed did not fall on fertile ground then. Now it has. And – as Robert Sorlie said near the end of the Race – “it is good.”


GOOD –BYE FROM BILL

This will be my last update for UltimateIditarod. I must fly back to Anchorage tomorrow (Saturday), and be at work Sunday night. The biggest sadness is that due to the longer course, and later start, I won’t be here to see Cindy, Jim and Tyrell finish Iditarod XXXI. And it is sad to wrap up such a big adventure. This has been great fun. Like last year there were many articles that were being developed in my head, but there simply wasn’t enough time in the day to write down all these ideas, and still do photography, editing, watching, and interviewing.

I want to extend a big THANK YOU to Jim and Tyrell for giving me the opportunity to participate again. And also a big THANK YOU to everyone who came on line, read our material, and offered suggestions, or requests.