Abstract

Blood collection is an essential component of a successful preventative medicine program for marine mammals under human care. Use of blood collection under voluntary behavioral control is valuable in allowing rapid detection and treatment of illnesses without the need for restraint or anesthesia. The primary blood collection site in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), known as the caudal gluteal vessel¹ can be difficult to consistently access due to the non-visible, non-palpable nature of its deep location. The superficial palmar vein (SPV, also referred to as the brachial vein) has been described as an alternative vascular site for blood collection in California sea lions.² The SPV is more superficial and is often visible and palpable on the caudal palmar aspect of the pectoral flipper. The U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program (MMP) began training and utilizing the SPV for voluntary venipuncture in its California sea lion population with either open contact and under limited protected contact in 2014. Since utilizing this vessel as an alternative site for blood collection, the need for restraint methods has decreased significantly, and the total number of successful blood collections have dramatically increased. Utilizing the SPV has also improved treatment strategies for the management of various diseases and is currently being used as the primary site for serial voluntary therapeutic phlebotomies in a sea lion with chronic hemochromatosis, eliminating the need for general anesthesia. The SPV also allows for rapid IV catheterization under general anesthesia with an 18 or 20 G x 1.25” Sur-Vet® SURFLO® IV catheters, as it is palpable and visible without ultrasonography, thus expediting the delivery of fluids, medications and blood sampling during an anesthetic event. The ability to use SPV with a greater success of venipuncture has led to the training staff becoming eager to train and attempt venipuncture in situations where they were previously hesitant. The superficial palmar vein has proven to be an effective and valuable alternative to the caudal gluteal vessel, aiding in improved clinical therapy and preventative medicine for California sea lions at the MMP.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Christian Harris, Daniel Cook, Ashley Survillion, Anthony Perron, Erin Brodie, Veronica Cendejas, Jennifer Dunham, Jaquielyn Raney, Taylor Meeginson, Jennifer Stavro, Megan Graves, Hannah Bateman, Amber Ramos and all of the veterinarians, technicians, and trainers at the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program and the National Marine Mammal Foundation.

Literature Review

1.  Barbieri M. 2018. Health Assessment of Seal and Sea Lions. In: Gulland FMD, Dierauf LA, Whitman KL, editors. CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine. 3rd edition Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press. p 852–854

2.  Renner M., Bailey J. 2013. Update and Review of Vascular Access in Select Pinnipeds. IAAAM 44th Annual Conference, Sausalito, CA, USA.