Sled Dog Veterinary Care w/Kim Henneman

Summary

In this conversation, Robert Forto is joined by veterinarian Kim Henneman to discuss vet care in sled dog racing. Kim shares her background in sports medicine and rehabilitation for dogs and horses, as well as her involvement in sled dog sports. They compare the differences between pet dogs and working dogs, and the importance of nutrition and exercise for high-performance athletes. Kim explains the differences in vet care for different types of sled dog racing, including the challenges of providing care in remote checkpoints. She also shares her favorite checkpoints and interesting stories from her experiences on the trail.

Editor’s Note: Transcriptions of episodes of the Mushing Podcast are created with a mix of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and may contain some grammatical errors or slight deviations from the audio.

Takeaways

Vet care for sled dog racing requires specialized knowledge in sports medicine and rehabilitation.
There are different types of sled dog racing, including sprint, mid-distance, and marathon, each with its own specific needs and challenges.
Vet care on the trail can be challenging due to limited access to critical care resources and the need for flexibility and improvisation.
Vet care continues after the race, with veterinarians available to provide care for dogs in the dog lot and address any health concerns.

Chapters

00:00: Introduction and Background

01:38: Kim’s Bio and Veterinary Practice

03:44: Kim’s Involvement in the Horse World

05:34: Kim’s Introduction to Sled Dog Sports

07:25: Comparison between Pet Dogs and Working Dogs

08:23: Different Types of Sled Dog Racing

09:45: Growing Interest in Canine Sports and Research

12:21: Differences in Vet Care for Different Race Types

15:34: Preparing for Races and Traveling

18:45: Working as a Veterinarian on the Trail

21:48: Shifts and Responsibilities at Checkpoints

23:36: Time Commitment for Races

24:33: Favorite Checkpoints and Interesting Stories

27:16: Most Interesting Case on the Trail

30:29: Continued Vet Care After the Race

33:18: Authority of Veterinarians on the Trail

35:04: Importance of Nutrition and Feeding

36:20: Follow Kim and Resources for Mushers