At it is Veterans’ Day / Remembrance Day in much of the world today, our Windback Wednesday takes us back to a few posts during the summer of 2012 by Kennel Mom Mickey. She tells us how SP Kennel was involved with a research project with Dr Mike Davis that directly helped the US Armed forces bomb-sniffing dogs!
Click on the red links below to take you to the stories including some great videos!
Vet Tech Christa, Ryne and Spoog begin research project in the new dog barn in 2012
Summer Research Means Summer Fun
Electrolyte Research Continues
Here are some excerpts:
SP Kennel’s close association with Dr. Mike Davis, celebrated physiologist from Oklahoma State University, has created an unusual opportunity this summer.
Those of you who read the blog regularly will remember that Dr. Davis has worked for years with Iditarod veterinarians to increase overall health in long distance racing dogs. He has also studied insulin absorption and fitness levels in these dogs in hopes of equating the results to the treatment of human diabetes.
Dr. Davis is now working with the US Armed Forces to assess and improve the physical endurance of bomb-sniffing dogs, used primarily in current Middle East conflicts. And he has enlisted the help of SP Kennel to test the effects of varying electrolyte levels and different exercise regimes on overall canine endurance. We are honored to be part of this research.
Click on the link here to take you to a Youtube video of a TEDx talk Dr Mike did about the wider project.
Thanks for the Veterans Day post. Another reason we think SP is such a class act. Jim and Vicki in Arkansas
Cool info! Loved the TEDx talk too.
That was a pretty cool Program to be involved with! Nice seeing some of the now retired athletes romping around too! A very fitting wind back Wednesday Veterans Day Post…..thanks!
Thank you for your service.
Yes, that was an amazing effort to build the big shed, necessary for keeping the study's integrity. That's why they call graduate study and research/data gathering "dog work" perhaps?
Best, and thanks for the memories…
Best,
Margaret
Thanks for the links to previous posts that give the background information. I saw Mike Davis and a couple other vets being interviewed on the show Iditarod Unleashd a couple of years ago. However, I didn't know of the research done through SPK nor the overflow study with the military IED dogs. Very cool. I really enjoyed this.
What Great information about Dr. Mike Davis and SPK. So
interesting. You are the best!