The mushers in the Yukon Quest 1,000-mile race are one step closer to the start line after having their dogs examined at the mandatory vet check on Saturday at Northerm Windows and Doors.

Starting at eight in the morning, the mushers were allotted into time slots. Four tables were set up all with a team of veterinarians and techs to assure the dogs were healthy leading into the Quest.

Dr. Rick Brown was one of the vets volunteering at the check. Brown says he and the other vets do a thorough examination to assure the dogs are fit to race.

“We are going over the whole system of the dog,” said Brown. “We are looking at the muscular-skeletal system, making sure there are no problems with muscle injuries, no problems with paws or joints. We are looking at their heart and lungs making sure there are no issues there.”

As well as the joints and the muscles, areas of the dog that would be expected to be checked before they run 1,000-miles, there mouths and eyes were also checked.

“We look at their mouth with an oral exam and their lymph nodes,” said Brown. “Any signs of frostbite or skin irritation, anything that can affect them while they are out there. Even a tooth problem can affect them. We just look to make see if it is going to be an issue while they are on the race.”

Although many of the vets who were working the check will not be following the trail, everything was noted so the vets who are stationed at the vet checks have all the appropriate information about the dogs to properly assess them during the mandatory examinations at the checkpoints.

“We document everything so they have a baseline,” said Brown. “So the vets that are on the trail can look back at what we saw and that is every little thing.”

Before the dogs were checked they got weighed. One of the main things the vets on the trail will look for are the dog’s body conditions compared to what they were scored at the vet check.

“Especially they look at body condition,” said Brown. “Are they keeping their weight on during the race because they can see what we scored them at beforehand. If they are losing weight they know they have to keep that in consideration. It all depends on whether the dog is eating on the trail the way they should be, so that is definitely one of the things they watch closely.”

To assess the dog’s body condition the vets use the Purina Nestle Body Condition Index to make sure the dogs are at a healthy weight.

“It is a scale of one to nine,” said Brown. “One is on the emaciated side and ten is on the obese side. We want them to be a four or a five out of that scale. Most of these dogs are coming into that, it’s pretty rare for us to be out of that range. Four or five is peak fitness. It is also where you want a pet dog to be. That is a happy, healthy weight.”

Mushers on this year’s quest will see familiar faces working the vet checks on the trail. Dr. Nina Hansen, from Fairbanks, the head veterinarian will be returning for her fifth year in the position.

The Star reached Hansen earlier in January and said it is a great vet team with many returning volunteers. The Quest will also have two new vets along the trail along with three vet techs and one vet student.

The Quest will begin at 11 a.m. on Feb. 2 at Shipyards Park in Whitehorse. QuestFest begins today with a full slate of activities up until the start date. Fans and those new to the race are welcome to attend the events at the Old Fire Hall in Whitehorse.

Those attending can enjoy musher presentations, sled dog movies, kid’s corner, and a silent auction to name a few of the activities going on throughout the week.