INUVIK - While a beagle lays subdued by anesthesia on the examining table, Dr. Peter Krizan gets a hand analyzing the animal's X-ray results from two visiting veterinarians.

From left, Peter Krizan examines an X-ray result with visiting veterinarians Jen Girard and Emily Jansen at his office Friday. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

Krizan figures the animal has suffered a broken bone near its rear but because his X-ray machine isn't working properly on Friday morning neither Doctor Jen Girard nor Emily Jansen can be sure either. Just a little more tinkering and the problem will be fixed, they figure.

Krizan, who's been running his clinic by himself here for the last two years, is grateful to have his two closest advisers and friends around for the week, even if they're leaving that afternoon.

"It's priceless; invaluable," he said. You can't explain it, they're there no matter what."

The trio graduated from Guelph University's veterinarian school together in Ontario. They've been in close contact ever since, always relying on each other for second opinions, advice and encouragement.

"They're like family," said Krizan.

Both Girard and Jansen arrived from their Ottawa-area practices early last week to visit the Inuvik clinic for the first time. Since then they've been put to work, including assisting with a neutering procedure on Sept. 30, but also helping out with tasks as simple as restocking vaccines and answering the phone at the one-man operation.

They get plenty of help from technicians and assistants at their own practices, they say. Krizan doesn't even have a receptionist, much less the luxury of assistants at his fingertips. His friends agree it takes an especially committed person to offer what they say is a well-equipped clinic.

Being isolated means high freight costs and the expense of keeping material, such as needles and the vaccines, fully stocked, just to name a few of the challenges.

"He's got quite an operation happening here," said Girard. "All the equipment we have, he has but I'm not sure if I could do what Peter does. There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes that people just don't see, the effort of keeping an operation like this going."

Though he admits there a some challenges, Krizan says he enjoys Inuvik and the independence of having his own practice. He has seen an increase in business of late. When he runs into a problem he knows he can call on his fellow veterinarian grads in the south.

"We understand each other and know each other's limits," he says. "Sometimes they make me realize that I'm doing OK. It's a big boost. It makes you feel that you're progressing and that you're going in the right direction."

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