Assessment of necropsy findings in sled dogs that died during Iditarod Trail sled dog races: 23 cases (1994–2006)

Dennis, Michelle M.; Nelson, Stuart N; Cantor, Glenn H.; Mosier, Derek A.; Blake, John E.; Basaraba, Randall J.

doi:10.2460/javma.232.4.564

Cited by 29 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 33 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…74 Other findings included rhabdomyolysis, hepatocellular necrosis, and cardiac myodegeneration. There is limited information on causes of severe injury or death of dogs during exercise.…”

Section: Adverse Effects Of Exercisementioning

confidence: 99%

Exercise Physiology of the Canine Athlete

Millard¹

2014

Canine Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…74 Other findings included rhabdomyolysis, hepatocellular necrosis, and cardiac myodegeneration. There is limited information on causes of severe injury or death of dogs during exercise.…”

Section: Adverse Effects Of Exercisementioning

confidence: 99%

Exercise Physiology of the Canine Athlete

Millard¹

2014

Canine Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Since the main hemostatic finding was increased procoagulant activity, hemorrhage caused by systemically compromised hemostasis as part of the pathophysiology of the GI bleeding risk, reported in sled dogs, is less likely [1,4,21]. On the other hand prolonged hypercoagulable states associated with long distance racing activity could make dogs vulnerable to thrombosis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The cause of the lesions is thought to be combinations of gastric hyperacidity and mucosal breakdown and up to 49% of dogs performing strenuous exercise have ulcerations, erosions, gastric hemorrhage or a combination of these [1]. In a canine study evaluating death after strenuous exercise 13% of the dogs died due to blood loss attributable to gastric ulceration [4]. Whether the increased gastro intestinal bleeding risk in dogs is exacerbated due to changes in the hemostatic balance is unknown and the pathophysiology for increased GI bleeding is not fully apparent, but the hemostatic system is a potentially important factor.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exercise induced hypercoagulability, increased von Willebrand factor and decreased thyroid hormone concentrations in sled dogs

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundSled dogs performing endurance races have been reported to have a high incidence of gastric erosions or ulcerations and an increased risk of gastro intestinal bleeding leading to death in some cases. In addition, these dogs also become hypothyroid during training and exercise. Canine hypothyroidism has been shown to correlate with decreased von Willebrand factor antigen and potentially increased bleeding tendency. Whether increased gastro intestinal bleeding risk is exacerbated due to changes in the hemostatic balance is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the hemostatic balance in sled dogs before and after exercise and in addition evaluate any correlation to thyroid status. Twenty sled dogs have been assessed in untrained and trained condition and immediately after exercise. The first sample was collected in the autumn following a resting period, and subsequently the dogs were exposed to increased intensity of training. After four months the peak of physical condition was reached and a 68 km long sled pulling exercise was performed. Samples were collected before and immediately after the exercise. Evaluated parameters were: plasma thromboelastographic (TEG) R, SP, α and MA, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor (vWf), D-dimer, platelet number, thyroid hormones, hematocrit and C-reactive protein (CRP).ResultsExercise induced an overall hypercoagulable state characterized by significant decreases of TEG R and SP and an increase of α, increased concentrations of plasma vWf and decreased aPTT. In addition, a proinflammatory status was seen by a significant increase of serum CRP concentrations. Thyroid status was confirmed to be hypothyroid as training and exercise induced significant decrease of thyroxin (T4), free thyroxin (fT4) and thyroxin stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations. Fibrinogen decreased significantly and PT increased. The training-induced changes showed correlation between T4, fT4 and aPTT and correlation between TSH and fibrinogen. Exercise-induced changes showed correlation between T4 and PT.ConclusionsExercise was associated with a hypercoagulable state and an increase of vWf concentration in this group of sled dogs. Decreased thyroid hormone concentrations after training and exercise were confirmed, but were associated with increased and not decreased vWf in this group of sled dogs.

show abstract

“…Races that can cover 160 km/day increase intestinal permeability [31], worsen ulceration [30], and sometimes lead to death during the event [32]. Excessive wheel running also causes peptic ulcers in laboratory rats.…”

Section: Other Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peptic Ulcer and Exercise

Shephard

2016

Sports Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Relationships between peptic ulcer and physical activity have as yet received little attention. The prevalence of ulceration is high in racehorses and sled dogs, particularly during periods of competition. In humans, some occupational comparisons show an increased risk among manual workers, but it remains difficult to separate effects of work-related activity from social class and attendant influences of smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, shift work, and other stressors. Two studies of leisure activity point to some benefit from moderate physical activity, one finding a reduced risk of gastric ulcers and the other finding no effect on gastric ulcers but a reduced risk of duodenal ulcers in men only. Moderate physical activity could have a favorable impact on a number of risk factors for peptic ulceration. It could reduce gastric secretions and enhance immune function, with the latter reducing the risk of Helicobacter pylori infection. Moderate activity might also reduce anxiety and encourage the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, with avoidance of smoking and an excessive consumption of alcohol. However, prolonged endurance exercise seems likely to have a negative impact, suppressing immune function, reducing mucosal blood flow, and calling for frequent administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). As with other aspects of exercise medicine, there may be a J-shaped relationship between dose and response. Limited human observations suggest a favourable response to bouts of moderate leisure activity but little benefit from heavy occupational activity and, in some animal studies, negative effects at high volumes and intensities of exercise. Further research is recommended to confirm the nature of this relationship, clarify the location of any nadir of risk for various classes of individual, and to explore mechanisms and antidotes.

show abstract

Assessment of necropsy findings in sled dogs that died during Iditarod Trail sled dog races: 23 cases (1994–2006)

Cited by 29 publications

References 33 publications

Exercise Physiology of the Canine Athlete

Exercise Physiology of the Canine Athlete

Exercise induced hypercoagulability, increased von Willebrand factor and decreased thyroid hormone concentrations in sled dogs

Peptic Ulcer and Exercise

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About