A 3-year-old male dog named Rodman in the team of Jeremy Gebauer became the first to die in this year's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Gebauer, of Lincoln, Mont., was mushing a team of young dogs belonging to race leader Doug Swingley. He was in 46th place when Rodman died at 3:50 p.m. less than a mile from Anvik at the end of a 25-mile trip from Shageluk, according to race officials. Anvik is the first checkpoint on the Yukon River, 489 miles from Nome.

Race marshal Mark Nordman flew from Unalakleet to Anvik and talked to Gebauer.

"I have found no signs which should prohibit Jeremy from continuing his race," he said in a press release.

A necropsy will be conducted to try and pinpoint the cause of death, Nordman said.