Race Veterinarians
International Sled Dog Veterinarians for Race to the Sky are both extremely qualified and experienced with sled dogs. Each veterinarian brings a wealth of experience and have secured other International Sled Dog Veterinary Association veterinarians to care for the sled dogs that come to Race to the Sky.
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Dr. Kathy Topham DVM
Dr. Kathy Topham is from Mantua, OH, where she practices Canine Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine at Pawsitive Results Animal Rehabilitation Center.
Certified in canine rehabilitation, veterinary spinal manipulation and veterinary medical acupuncture. She graduated from North Carolina State University Collage of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. Kathy and Phil are celebrating their 22nd year of volunteering on sled dog races- together! |
Dr. Phillip Topham MS, DVM
Dr. Phil Topham comes to Montana’s Race to the Sky from Mantua OH. Phil graduated from North Carolina State University Collage of Veterinary Medicine in 1992. He is a relief veterinarian, licensed to practice in 13 states, including, of course, Montana. Although his practice is primarily small animal based these days, he still enjoys getting outdoors as much as possible. This is his 9th Race to The Sky. He has also worked many John Beargrease Marathons, UP200 and Midnight Runs, and Copperdog 150s.
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Kristina Kiefer DVM, DACVSMR, PhD
Dr. Kristina Kiefer is a surgeon and sports medicine specialist that has over ten years experience working as a trail veterinarian for dog sled racing and skijoring. Dr. Kiefer attended vet school at the University of Minnesota, and returned there to do a surgery residency and PhD in regenerative medicine. She happily lives with her retired sled dog, standard poodle and corgi.
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Dr. Lara Stephens-Brown, DVM
Lara Stephens-Brown, DVM is a graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and currently practices in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan at a mixed animal practice. She fell in love with sled dogs in veterinary school and has been involved with race veterinary teams since 2015.
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Chrissy Damitz CVT
Chrissy has been a certified veterinary technician for many years, graduating from Ridgewater Technical College in Willmar, MN with an AAS. Her primary veterinary experience has been in emergency and critical care medicine. Most recently she is working as an anesthesia technician at a Twin Cities Veterinary Specialty Hospital. She has volunteered on the veterinary team for the Beargrease, Gunflint Mail Run, and Montana's Race to the Sky
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Brenda Schaeffer CVT, CCRP
Brenda Shaffer is from Butte, MT and this will be her first time volunteering for Race to the Sky. She is a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner, with over 20 years of experience as a certified veterinary technician.
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Dr. Cathy Davis DVM
Dr. Cathy Davis is from Helena, MT where she owns Pawsitive Dynamic Balance, LLC providing mobile Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation services to the canine athletes of Montana. She runs OrthoPets West Montana, providing orthotic and prosthetic mobility services in the Pacific Northwest. Certified in canine rehabilitation, veterinary spinal manipulation. This is her 3rd Race To The Sky.
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Dr. Teresa Petterson, DVM
Dr Teresa Petterson is an Auburn University graduate that practices small animal medicine in Victor, Montana at Burnt Fork Veterinary Clinic. She originally was at a mixed animal practice in Colorado and fell in love with skijor racing. Dr Petterson has been skijor racing, dryland and mushing for 17 years. During that time she has been the race veterinarian at many sprint races in the western states. Last year she started Bitterroot Dog Powered Sports LLC to help promote the sport.
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Zoeya
Zoeya is a 4th year veterinary student from the University of Pennsylvania. Zoeya is a Pennsylvania native and after graduating vet school in 2023, she plans to relocate to Missoula to join the Western Montana Humane Society on their mission to provide low-cost treatment options and surgeries to rural and under privileged areas of Montana. In her free time, Zoeya loves mountaineering, rock climbing, fostering animals, and looking for new mountain peaks to summit! Zoeya is very excited to meet the mushers and their dogs and hopes to learn a lot during her experience with the veterinary team!
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