Local vet tech returns after preparing dogs for Iditarod

By MO CRANKER on March 2, 2020.

mcranker@medicinehatnews.com@MHNmocranker

A local vet tech recently returned from Alaska, where she played a key role in getting dogs ready for one of the biggest dog sled races in the world.

Taylor MacPhail, who works at Cypress View Veterinary Clinic, spent 11 days in the state getting dozens of dogs ready for the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

“I got to do a lot of prep for the races,” she said. “We worked with four dog teams every day – that’s 96 dogs each day.

“It was a really busy trip, but it was worth it – it was a once-in-a-lifetime trip.”

MacPhail and her colleagues had a number of tasks each day with the dog teams.

“Pulling blood on 96 dogs is a lot of work,” she said. “We would do physical exams and do body condition scores. We did Electrocardiograms to make sure their hearts were all good.

“We just needed to make sure they were all ready for the race that starts on March 7.”

The race begins in Anchorage and ends in Nome. The race spans 1,510 kilometres and can take eight to 16 days to complete. Mitch Seavey holds the course record with a time of eight days, three hours, 40 minutes and 13 seconds.

MacPhail graduated from Olds College in June and says there was a lot to learn while in Alaska.

“Sled dogs aren’t anything like house dogs,” she said. “When you read an ECG you can see the size of their hearts. With sled dogs, their hearts and muscles around their hearts are around double the size of a pet dog.

“It was 11 days of constant learning.”

MacPhail says she had a good time in Alaska.

“It was beautiful,” she said. “Pictures really don’t do the beauty justice – it was amazing to see.

“I didn’t get to see the Northern Lights, but the views I did get to see were amazing.”

Since travelling and working with animals are both passions of hers, MacPhail says she will continue to seek opportunities like this one.

“I’m young and just graduated – I have so much to learn,” she said.

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