Dr. David Gagnon

Here we are again.  It’s the middle of winter, which means Dr. G heads north.  I’ve been volunteering at sled dog races since vet school.  And despite the long days with little-to-no sleep, and the sometimes frigid days (and nights), I caught the bug.

I’ve participated in the UP200, in (you guessed it) the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  This 240 mile race starts in Marquette, travels east to Grand Marais, MI, and back.

I’m also involved in the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon in northern Minnesota, which starts in Duluth, goes north until nearly reaching the Canadian border, and returns to Duluth again.  This race is around 400 miles in length, and is the longest sled dog race in the lower 48 states.

This year’s Beargrease was mild, with temps hovering in the mid-upper 20s.  This is about a 40 or 50 degree difference from last year, when we were amid an infamous polar vortex, with actual temps dipping into the 20s below zero, never mind the wind chills.

 

You may ask “why would you subject yourself to those cold temps and sleepless nights?”  The answer is simple… it’s addicting.  The people I see at these races are a joy to be around; they’re folks I see once or twice a year, so it’s quite a fun reunion.  But the biggest attractions for me are the dogs.  Sled dogs are arguably the best endurance athletes in the world.

Some people think “Isn’t that hard on them?” or “Isn’t that abuse?”  If you’ve ever seen sled dogs race, you’d absolutely know that’s not the case.  These dogs LOVE running.  They’re bred for their desire to pull sleds, run long distances, and recover for another run within a matter of hours.  Sure, I see a few injuries along the trails, but this is no different than people who get injured running a marathon.  Some dogs get achy joints, some dogs get over-zealous, pull too hard and strain a muscle.  Different trail conditions can lead to specific injuries too.

As a “trail vet,” my job is to monitor for injuries, dehydration, or signs of illness along the race.  The mushers (yes, they really are called mushers) are very understanding when we decide a dog is unfit to continue, because they know their dogs are the most important players in the race.

 

Mushers and veterinarians alike may travel across the continent to participate in many other races this time of year.  Everyone knows about the Iditarod, which starts near Anchorage, AK in early March, travels nearly 1000 miles to Nome, AK (side note: This year’s start is in Fairbanks, AK).  The fastest teams have finished in less than 9 days!  Another race I’d love to try is the Yukon Quest, taking place in early February traveling from Whitehorse, Yukon to Fairbanks, AK, also 1000 miles.  Someday I’ll make my way out there.  I just need more vacation days.