MARQUETTE -- A sled team is no good if the dogs aren't healthy, and the vet check in Marquette determined just that.

Every competing musher brought their dog team to be inspected.  Local veterinarians paid close attention to the dogs' hearts, lungs, gums and paws.

If a dog does not meet health standards, it is not allowed to race.  Almost every dog passes the initial vet check, but dogs must also pass each follow up at checkpoints along the races.

Keeping a healthy dog team is no simple matter.

"It's a lot of care throughout the year," said musher Ryan Anderson.  "It's not just...it's an everyday thing, 365 days out of the year.  You know, good nutrition, good diet, obviously their exercise."

If a musher loses too many dogs at the checkpoints, he or she could be disqualified.