Assessment of current musher practices across the sled dog industry with an emphasis on nutritional programs implemented
Templeman, J. et al.
2018
American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences

Human used sled dogs for four thousand years. Nutrition of sled dogs is often a controversial topic and scientific evidence either not incorporated into musher practices or insuffcient. University of Guelph (Anna Kate Shoveller, ashovell@uoguelph.ca) has evaluated current canadian muching habits and practices into nutrition, overall health as well as housing, training and well being via a questionnaire. Results show that mushers luck accurate nutritional information and otrain nutritional information over 50% of the time from other mushers and not nutritionists who accounted for 16% and veterinarians for 6% of contacts. Majority provides same amount of feed and water during racing and off-season, while also underestimating importance of fiber and optimal body condition. Raw meat, oils and vitamin E were most commonly supplemented to mainly high protein high fat diet, while less than half of responders believed carbohydrates and fiber were essential in sled dog diet. Psyllium husk was supplemented by 26% of responders. Commercial diets was used predominantly off season and combinationwith self-mixed diet predominated in the racing season. Twice a day feeding predominated. Mush with P.R.I.D.E., International Sled Dog Racing Association, ISDRA, and International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association; ISDVMA, have  general guidelines for sled dog management.
Sled dogs may require up to 8 times Maintenance Energy Requirement of other medium size breeds.