The Batman :

I'm making a character, and I was wondering how advanced Nome's vet care for sled dogs were at the time the first Balto movie was set. 

Roughly I want to know how they could treat a dog that was bitten by another dog, with or without an illness.

Thank you for your replies in advance!

jerseycaptain :

According to the information I have read in "Nome: City of the Golden Beaches", by the Alaska Geographic Society (a book that is no longer in print), there is no mention of a veterinarian in Nome at the time. Or in the earlier days of the town. That does not mean there wasn't one, of course. And, in time, it is likely that there was one. Most mushers tended to take care of their own dogs, and learned very quickly how to do so. It's possible they provided some of that care on an ad hoc basis.

I suspect that the town would have acquired a veterinarian sooner or later, given its preponderance of dogs, horses, mules, reindeer and other animals (draft animals as well as pets). And since Nome even then was the biggest thing going in the region (bigger than now actually), it stands to reason.

There is a brief general reference here to veterinary medicine of the time (and before): http://www.amvm.org/displays.htm

You could also contact the Carrie M. McLain Museum in Nome about this. You can find their contact information here: http://www.visitnomealaska.com/

You may wish to contact the museums and ask them if they know anything in greater detail. Good luck!

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Last comments

JerseyCa ptain	July 12, 2012
	L&T Source Moderator

According to the information I have read in "Nome: City of the Golden Beaches", by the Alaska Geographic Society (a book that is no longer in print), there is no mention of a veterinarian in Nome at the time. Or in the earlier days of the town. That does not mean there wasn't one, of course. And, in time, it is likely that there was one. Most mushers tended to take care of their own dogs, and learned very quickly how to do so. It's possible they provided some of that care on an ad hoc basis. I suspect that the town would have acquired a veterinarian sooner or later, given its preponderance of dogs, horses, mules, reindeer and other animals (draft animals as well as pets). And since Nome even then was the biggest thing going in the region (bigger than now actually), it stands to reason. There is a brief general reference here to veterinary medicine of the time (and before): http://www.amvm.org/displays.htm You could also contact the Carrie M. McLain Museum in Nome about this. You can find their contact information here: http://www.visitnomealaska.com/ You may wish to contact the museums and ask them if they know anything in greater detail. Good luck!