Assessment of necropsy findings in sled dogs that died during Iditarod Trail sled dog races: 23 cases (1994-2006).
OBJECTIVE
To describe the character and frequency of causes of death and associated lesions in long-distance racing sled dogs.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
23 dogs.


METHODS
Medical records of dogs that died during or soon after competition in the Iditarod Trail sled dog races (1994 through 2006) were examined for fi ndings of gross necropsy and histologic evaluation of tissue samples. From the data, descriptive and comparative statistics were obtained.


RESULTS
Recognized causes of death included aspiration of gastric contents (n = 4), aspiration pneumonia (4), acute blood loss secondary to gastric ulceration (3), and sled dog myopathy (2). A cause of death was not established for 7 dogs. Prevalent lesions among the study population included rhabdomyolysis (n = 15), enteritis (10), gastritis (10), aspiration pneumonia (8), and gastric ulceration (8). All dogs with aspiration pneumonia had concurrent gastric mucosal lesions. Subjective biventricular cardiac hypertrophy was evident in most dogs; other lesions detected frequently included centrilobular hepatic fibrosis, gastric dilatation, and mild cardiac myodegeneration and necrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Unexpected death is a rare event among conditioned sled dogs during competition in endurance races. Potentially life-threatening conditions of dogs that are associated with periods of long-distance physical exertion include aspiration pneumonia, gastric mucosal lesions, and severe rhabdomyolysis. Dogs that develop clinical signs suggestive of these conditions should be excluded from strenuous activities. Epidemiologic investigations are required to clarify the risk for death associated with these lesions in dogs competing in endurance races.
Dennis
Michelle M
MM
Animal Population Health Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences and the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
Nelson
Stuart N
SN
Cantor
Glenn H
GH
Mosier
Derek A
DA
Blake
John E
JE
Basaraba
Randall J
RJ
D000413:Alaska; D000818:Animals; D002423:Cause of Death; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D005756:Gastritis / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010807:Physical Endurance; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*