ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – The Iditarod Trail Committee announced Friday it has yet to determine the cause of death for three dogs who died during the 52nd Iditarod in March.
According to the report, gross necropsies — defined as a post-mortem examination on an animal — were performed immediately following the passing of Bog, a two-year old male, George, a four-year old male and Henry, a three-year old male.
Further testing was done after the race’s conclusion by five separate veterinarians, though no further cause could be found.
“Despite this investigation, a definitive cause of death is not identified, and we cannot rule out the occurrence of a fatal cardiac arrhythmia in one or more of the dogs,” Iditarod veterinarian Dr. Erika Friedrich said in a release. “While a pre-race ECG was unremarkable and typical for an elite endurance-trained sled dog, cardiac arrhythmias may be intermittent and may only occur during exercise.
“Cardiac arrhythmias may occur in the absence of significant microscopic lesions. Ultimately, the cause of a presumed arrhythmia is unknown and presumed idiopathic at this time. There are no known preventative measures that could have been taken.”
Cardiac arrhythmia is defined as an abnormal heartbeat.
The report also states that no abnormalities were found in the lead up to the race.
“Like all Iditarod dogs, these athletes received exceptional care and were highly trained with months of conditioning on various terrains,” the statement said. “In the weeks leading up to the Iditarod, the dogs received thorough physical examinations, including blood tests and EKGs, to identify any medical issues. These tests indicated no medical abnormalities for Bog, George or Henry.”
The following days since the trio’s deaths sparked numerous outcries from animal rights groups. According to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), over 100 dogs have died in the race’s history. The group has been calling for an end to the race for years.
“We can still celebrate everything the Iditarod stands for without causing dogs to suffer and die,” PETA Senior Campaign Manager Melanie Johnson told Alaska’s News Source in March.
The ITC did not state whether this is the end of their investigation into the dogs deaths or not.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the mushers and mushing community who cared deeply for these dogs,” Iditarod said. “The ITC will continue to provide world-class healthcare to all Iditarod dogs, as well as health care, checkups and vaccinations to dogs in the communities and villages along the Iditarod Trail.”
The report comes out just over a week after the chief veterinarian of Iditarod, Dr. Stuart Nelson, died after 38 years of involvement in the Last Great Race.
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