Medical Checks and Health Records

Every dog is checked thoroughly, once per week, by the person in charge of their overall health and well-being (the dog manager). During the check, the dog manager makes notes on their weight (and adjusts their weekly food intake for the following week accordingly) and their general wellbeing.

Every dog gets a thorough weekly check by the dog manager
Weekly checks cover weight, nails, range of movement, skin, collar, parasites and teeth
Records kept in two places: a medical book and a weekly summary chart, plus computerised records
Females checked for heat cycles three times a week
Only one planned litter per year, timed for the mushing season

Weekly dog checks

We check nails to see if they need cutting; range of movement; skin, for sores needing cream or betadine; the collar, for fit and free movement; and we look for exoparasites, signs of pregnancy, and the state of teeth and feet. We also check the security of the kennel, since the dogs like to burrow underneath it, particularly in summer.

All of this is recorded in two places - a medical book and a weekly medical summary chart - both easily accessed by all guides, visiting vets and others. Everything from massage needs to nail-cutting and hair-plucking goes on this weekly chart, alongside more critical daily antibiotic and medication needs. Any larger medical needs are also recorded on an individual computerised record for each dog.

Heat, frostbite and mosquito-bite checks

Three times a week we check the females to see where they are in their heat cycles, and we carefully monitor the results of any accidental matings. We plan for only one litter of pups a year, timed so they are big enough to interact with clients during the mushing season - and it takes real work to keep it that way. In February 2011, we had an unplanned litter simply because the 'check with ultrasound' note had been written in the wrong column of the spreadsheet! So, as you can imagine, we take our charting and record keeping very seriously.

Double records and individual charts

Any major incident - e.g. a fight resulting in stitches, staples or a course of antibiotics - is recorded in both the medical book and the computerised records once the dog has been thoroughly checked in the house extension (essentially a dog medical room, which also doubles as where multiday clients sit and get to know us and their equipment when they first arrive).

An individual dog chart is also written up and posted on the dog kitchen wall. Whenever medications are given, guides annotate the chart so meds are not missed or doubled up. The dog manager logs the treatment in a spreadsheet detailing each dog's entire medical history, so we can spot whether a dog is suffering recurring injuries - which may prompt a solution like a magnetic collar to strengthen a joint. The dog manager is also responsible for planning all vaccination needs with the local vet.