Yukon Quest dog died of aspiration, says race's head vet

Yukon Quest officials say preliminary necropsy results showno signs that musherMishaWiljes's dead dog wasabused or neglected.

According to the race's head veterinarian, the dog,named Joker, was in good body condition.CristinaHansen said Joker died of aspiration, meaning he choked on something or suffocated,while in the race.

Quest officials said Jokerdied onMonday evening, about five kilometres from theCircle checkpoint.

"Wiljes carried Joker into the Central checkpoint in her sled,"said a news release from race officials on Tuesday morning.

By Tuesday afternoon, Hansen reported on the preliminary necropsy results. Final results are expected to be released within a month of the race's finish.

The Quest, a gruelling 1,600-kilometrerace between Whitehorse and Fairbanks, Alaska, started on Feb. 2. The first mushers arrived at the finish line in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Monday afternoon.

According to herQuest bio, Wiljesis a Yukon Quest veteran who also raced in 2012 and 2013.She is Czech and American, living in Willow, Alaska. Wiljes, a postal clerk, hasbeen running dogs for 18 years. She said all her dogs are between two and nine years old, with four race rookies.

"We are looking forward to seeing them happy and healthy at the finish line," her bio stated.

10 dogs have died in past

Yukon Quest mushers start with 14 dogs.

About 10 dogs have died in the last decade or so of the Quest, including last year when musher Hugh Neff's dog Boppy died along the way.

Activists have spoken out about the race being inhumane, saying animals are exploited, but Yukon Quest veterinarians maintain that the dogs are generally in good shape and are taken care of on mandatory medical check stops.

Most of the dog'sdeaths have been due to medical issues, such as heart malformations or intestinal problems, or from the animal choking on food or vomit.

Alaskan musher Brent Sass was the first to cross the finish lineof the Yukon Quest on Monday, with all of his 14 dogs. In total, sevenmushershad finished the race as of Tuesday afternoon.

Wiljes left Circle on Tuesday morning, with two more checkpoints to go before reaching Fairbanks.

Thirty mushers began the race this year in Whitehorse. Three have since dropped out.