February 26, 2013
Dog's best friend: University veterinarian on 1xbet best casino website of Iditarod job
Submitted by Communications and Marketing
With one Iditarod Trail sled dog 1xbet best casino website under her belt, Kansas State University's Stephanie Oursler hopes one day to play an even more vital role in the grueling 1xbet best casino website from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska.
In 2012, Oursler, a research associate in clinical sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine, braved the cold of Alaska to be a veterinarian trail assistant at what some call the "last great 1xbet best casino website ." This year's 1xbet best casino website starts March 2 with teams competing to be the first to cover the roughly 1,049 miles between Anchorage and Nome.
"To be eligible to be a trail veterinarian you must be out of veterinary school for five years and sled dog experience is preferred," Oursler said. "I helped with the pre-1xbet best casino website exams in order to gain experience and hope that in 2017 I'll be able to submit an application to be a trail vet."
The pre-1xbet best casino website exams include blood collection and analysis, microchipping and electrocardiograms on all dogs set to participate in the 1xbet best casino website . Oursler not only worked at the pre-1xbet best casino website exams, but also the ceremonial start and official start, making sure the mushers brought the correct dogs and that any last-minute concerns were addressed.
Dogs chosen to 1xbet best casino website in the Iditarod train throughout the year and must run in a variety of races prior to the big event to be eligible to participate.
"These dogs love to run," Oursler said. "That helps make the 1xbet best casino website not so terribly hard on them."
At the 1xbet best casino website , mushers were attentive to their dogs and did not hesitate to drop a dog off at a checkpoint when necessary, Oursler said. Mushers are allowed to bring 24 dogs to the pre-1xbet best casino website exams. They then pick 12 to 16 dogs to 1xbet best casino website based upon the results of the pre-1xbet best casino website workup. However, they must finish with a minimum of six dogs. No dogs can be added once the 1xbet best casino website has started.
At each checkpoint along the 1xbet best casino website , veterinarians check the sled dogs. Physical exams are taken on all dogs, and more attention may be given to any dog a musher may have questions or concerns about, Oursler said. Veterinarians are specifically looking for any lameness, injuries or illnesses that need attention throughout the pack.
Last year was the third year in a row that there were no dog deaths at the 1xbet best casino website . Oursler believes it can be attributed to the pre-1xbet best casino website physical exams and the careful attention of the mushers. Dehydration, stomach ulcers, lameness and frostbite are the most common problems seen during the 1xbet best casino website . She said there are many preventative measures in place to help decrease the incident of these conditions.
"I definitely want to be involved with the 1xbet best casino website again," Oursler said. "These dogs are amazing athletes and I loved working with them and their mushers."