What happens if a dog gets injured during an Iditarod race?

Answer 1

Having run the Iditarod, I can tell you exactly what happens. Every single checkpoint that the race goes through has a team of vets available and ready to evaluate and treat injured dogs. The vets partners with the mushers to go over every team when they enter a checkpoint, evaluating individual dogs and answering any questions the musher may have. Likewise a musher can "drop" a tired or injured dog at any checkpoint, meaning they sign the dog over to the Iditarod vets and volunteers to care for and transport the dog back to Anchorage.

Dogs, especially any injured dogs, are top transport priorities, and bump everything else...including humans. The "Iditarod Air Force" a highly skilled team of the cream of the Alaskan bush pilots, will make priority transports of injured dogs from the checkpoints anywhere along the race back to Anchorage and advanced medical care if needed. Most dogs simply need rest, and are transported back to Anchorage and picked up by the musher's designated local contact person. If more treatment is required, the dogs are taken directly to advanced veterinary clinics to have that performed.

The health and safety of the dogs is the top priority for the mushers as well as the vets and trail volunteers. After all, the musher can't travel without them. I dropped 2 dogs in Ruby, a little over half-way through the race, because of sore shoulders -- it was in their best interest, even though they still wanted to go. By the time they got to Anchorage and my handler picked them up back there, they were bouncing around looking for the party...they're gotten enough rest to heal, which is the one thing I couldn't give them enough of on the trail. And I knew that they would be well taken care of once I dropped them and put them in the hands of the vets, pilots and volunteers.

Answer 2

You have to call to quit the race and be picked up by helicopter.

2nd Answer:

You have to let the Veterinarian in charge know that you are pulling such and such dog. The dog can be treated by the attending Veterinarian at one of the Stations along the way. After the attending Vet says the dog is stable enough to move, it is then transported back via Airplane to the owner's kennels.

Answer 3

if a dog gets sick or injured it will be taken to a doctor and be givin meds

Answer 4

ok so being a dog racer is really hard and your dog can die i have know clue