Many thanks
I want to take the time to thank a couple of persons or organizations that made this unique adventure possible. Many thanks to: – Makivik who invited me for a fifth year in a row to be the race veterinarian;…
Vaccination against rabies
One of the prerequisite to participate in the Ivakkak race is that all dogs must be vaccinated against rabies. Rabies is a virus transmitted by saliva of infected animals and is an important disease for humans because it is considered…
Dogs as athletes
Just as human athletes, sled dogs are prone to injuries, which are specific to the activity there trained for. In sled dogs, the majority of problems encountered are of musculoskeletal origin. We can see a lot of foot problems, from…
Veterinary services up North
Unfortunately, there is no continuous veterinary service offered in Nunavik but some veterinarians occasionally visit the region. First of all, the Department of agriculture, fisheries and food (MAPAQ) of Quebec offers vaccination clinics for rabies and other common diseases, such…
The dog ambulance
As many of you know, there are no roads between the villages in Nunavik. Ivakkak is one of the few sled dog races in the world where teams and support crew find themselves in complete autonomy, once on the land.…
Sled dogs have been bred and born to run
If you’ve never been to the start of a sled dog race, it’s an experience to live once in your life. Generally mushers arrive at least an hour before departure to adequately prepare their gear and dog team. You’ll notice…
First round of examination
This week, over a hundred dogs were brought to Kuujjuarapik by plane and are now resting on the ice. A first round of examinations where accomplished on Saturday and the rest will be completed today. Up to now, the dog…
Poop and parasites
Deworming sled dogs months before the Ivakkak race is a standard of care. The presence of internal parasite in dogs is not only a reality in Nordic sled dogs but also in our domestic dogs down south. However, dogs in…
An epic journey throughout the land
For the past five years, I had the chance to monitor the health of dogs participating in Ivakkak, the annual traditional sled dog race held in Nunavik. Through this blog, I will talk about the ups and downs of a…