abstract

The diving adaptations of phocids make general anesthesia of seals very challenging. This presentation describes the general anesthesia with isoflurane and subsequent gastrotomy to remove gastric foreign bodies in a captive harp seal (Phoca groenlandica).

A four year-old seal, belonging to Océanopolis, in Brest, France presented to the National Veterinary School of Nantes in December 2002. The seal had been suffering from dysorexia for four months and showed a marked delay in growth. Diagnosis of gastric foreign bodies (metallic bodies and silicone joints) was based on clinical signs and radiographic findings.

The seal was given midazolam chlorhydrate at a dosage of 0.2 mg/kg intramuscularly. Ten minutes later, induction was accomplished with the inhalant anesthetic agent, isoflurane. It was then intubated with a 10 mm endotracheal tube by using a laryngoscope and anesthesia maintained with 2% isoflurane. Ventilatory assistance was quickly needed, because inherent ventilation efforts of the seal were insufficient. Once the seal was suitably anesthetized, metallic objects and many silicone joints were removed by gastrotomy. Respiratory and cardiac rates, depth of anesthesia, and core body temperature as well as blood oxygen and carbon dioxide rates of levels were monitored throughout surgery. The wound was closed using skin sutures that were resistant to friction due to locomotion of the seal over the ground.

Analgesia was controlled with butorphanol (at a dosage of 0.1 mg/kg intramuscularly). A prophylatic antibiotherapy (cefalexine) was given before the surgery and continued for 10 days after. The seal was re-fed 48 hours after the surgery, and two weeks later, it was eating as well as the other harp seals living in the same pool.