Iditarod Dog Saved With Mouth-To-Snout CPR

Sled Dog Rescued By ‘Mushing Mortician’

An Iditarod sled dog, who collapsed navigating a steep section of Alaska’s Dalzell Gorge, was saved by his racer-owner thanks to some mouth-to-snout CPR.

Scott “Mushing Mortician” Janssen, 51, told the Anchorage Daily News that the 9-year-old husky, named Marshall, was pulling hard at the sled and then fell to the ground.

“I know what death looks like, and he was gone. Nobody home,” the Anchorage funeral home owner told the newspaper.

According to the publication, Janssen saw that the husky stopped breathing, so he started CPR by putting his mouth over the dog’s snout, breathing air into his lungs and compressing his chest.

“I’m like ‘C’mon dude, please come back.’ And he did,” Janssen said.

Janssen told the newspaper that Marshall was carried in the sled for the next 32 miles until the team reached the Rohn checkpoint. He was treated by a veterinarian, given an IV and was prepped to be flown back to Anchorage.

“He’s doing just fine. He’s still at the checkpoint, and they’re flying him back home today,” Janssen said.

According to the Anchorage Daily, Janssen is running in only his second Iditarod after placing 42 out of 47 finishers in 2011.

Janssen said Marshall is likely one of his oldest sled dogs and has finished about six Iditarods — mainly with another musher.

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POSTED: 9:31 am CST March 8, 2012  –  UPDATED: 10:00 am CST March 8, 2012  –  Source: KETV.com

The Iditarod is the granddaddy of American animal races.

There are two separate major races/events on the Iditarod trial; is the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race.  The other is the Iron Dog Snow Mobile race on the Iditarod Trail.  There is also a Junior Iditarod.  Iditarod | Last Great Race on Earth® – The Official Site of the …

Sarah Palin’s husband, Todd Palin, is an Iditarod champion. He first competed in The Iron Dog race, a race along the Iditarod Trail from Big Lake to Nome and then back to Fairbanks in 1993 and has been a champion snowmobile racer, winning the Tesoro Iron Dog race four times. His racing co-pilot is Scott Davis. Todd Palin is competing again in the 2012 race at the end end of February.  This year the Iron Dog was won by the McKenna and VanMeter team.

The Palins do, however, run a mix of lead and team dogs.

Related:

10 Great and Funny American Animal Races

Dear Dogs and Cats…

Dear Dogs and Cats,

The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The
other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw
print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it
becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing
in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack.
Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn’t help
because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry
about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to
ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when
they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other
stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that
sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other
end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by
some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut (!), it
is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get
your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit
through the same door I entered.

Also, I have been using the bathroom for years — canine or feline
attendance is not required.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat’s
butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on
our front door:

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets:

1. They live here. You don’t.

2. If you don’t want their hair on your clothes, stay off the
furniture. That’s why they call it ‘fur’niture.

3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.

4. To you, it’s an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter
who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn’t speak clearly.

Remember: Dogs and cats are better than kids because they:

1. Eat less

2. Don’t ask for money all the time

3. Are easier to train

4. Normally come when called

5. Never ask to drive the car

6. Don’t hang out with drug-using friends

7. Don’t smoke or drink

8. Don’t have to buy the latest fashions

9. Don’t want to wear your clothes

10. Don’t need a gazillion dollars for college, and…and…and

11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.

12.  Are loyal to a fault.  

13.  Always love you, no matter what, the best!

 

Cushing’s Syndrome in Dogs

An sharing this info from another dog group that I belong to….

Question from fellow dog owner:  

My dog Tucker, 12 yr old Lhasa Apso was just diagnosed with Cushings Disease.  Any one have experience with this?  My vet said a drug used for many years in Britain has just been approved by FDA and is available in U.S.  I think it may vetoryl.  Wonder about cost and side affects.  He is so precious and I don’t want him to suffer.  Any info would be appreciated.

Response:  We have had one dachshund with Cushings, know of some other people that have had their dogs for a few years after first signs, and on medical care good luck. Below is some general information on it.

 DOES YOUR DOG HAVE CUSHING’S SYNDROME?

There are many clinical signs associated with Cushing’s syndrome (also called “hyperadrenocorticism”) in the dog. These signs usually come on very gradually and, because of this slow onset, these changes are often written off as part of the normal aging process. The following is a list of common symptoms which an owner might observe in their pet at home.

DRINKING EXCESSIVELY/URINATING EXCESSIVELY/INCONTINENCE

Owners often notice that lately the water bowl must be filled more frequently than in the past.  Some dogs are unable to hold their  bladder all night and begin crying to go  outside during the night when previously this was unnecessary.
Also, urinary tract infections may also be detected and true urine leaking may be observed.

HOW MUCH WATER CONSUMPTION IS NORMAL?

Each day a dog should drink about one cup of water for each ten pounds of body weight.

INCREASED OR EVEN RAVENOUS APPETITE

This symptom often leads dogs to beg incessantly or steal food from the garbage.  It is important for an owner not to be fooled by the pet’s “good appetite;” eating well is not necessarily a sign of normal health.

 

 

POT-BELLIED APPEARANCE

This symptom, present in over 90% of Cushing’s syndrome dogs, results from hormonal redistribution of body fat plus a breakdown of abdominal musculature.

MUSCLE WEAKNESS

Muscle protein is broken down in Cushing’s syndrome. The result may be seen as exercise intolerance, lethargy, or reluctance to jump up on furniture or climb stairs.

SKIN DISEASE

The classical signs of endocrine (hormonal) skin diseases are:

Hair loss on the main body sparing the head and legs Thin, wrinkled skin with poor wound healing Hair that does not grow back after clipping. Blackheads and darkening of the skin, especially on the abdomen. Persistent or recurring skin infections (especially if the dog is not itchy during times when the skin infection is cleared)

 

 

 

 

Another condition of the skin which may be observed is called Calcinosis Cutis, in which calcium deposits occur within the skin. These are raised, hard, almost rock-like areas which can occur almost anywhere on the body.

Some other notable findings might include: excessive panting and shortness of breath, infertility, extreme muscle stiffness (called “pseudomyotonia” – a very very rare symptom in Cushing’s disease), and high blood pressure.