Urinary Indices in the Captive Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)
IAAAM 2002
Michael S. Renner
SeaWorld Cleveland, Aurora OH, USA; Present address: Columbus Zoo, Powell OH, USA

Abstract

Urine and blood samples were collected concomitantly (within one half hour of each other), after an overnight fast, from eight, apparently healthy, female killer whales (Orcinus orca), ranging in age from seven to thirty three years. Midstream urine was collected behaviorally after drying the genital area with a clean towel. Blood was collected from the fluke veins in the normal fashion. A total of sixty six samples were collected over a period of two years. Urinalysis concomitant with blood evaluation, should be part of the medical workup of any cetacean where collection is possible. The values generated in this report can be used as a reference. Future studies are needed to determine the usefulness of concurrent blood and urine values to evaluate hydration status, primary renal disease (e.g., renal calculi), and mariposia, as well as to determine the usefulness of calculated fractional excretions in this and other cetacean species.

Urinalysis

Parameter

Result

Color (visual)

Yellow (100%)

Character (visual)

Clear (100%)

Specific Gravity (refractometer)

1.034 (Mean)

Nitrite (dipstick)

Negative (100%)

PH (dipstick)

5.6 (Mean)

Protein (dipstick)

Negative (67%). Trace (33%)

Glucose (dipstick)

Negative (100%)

Ketones (dipstick)

Negative (100%)

Urobilinogen (dipstick)

Normal (100%)

Bilirubin (dipstick)

Negative (100%)

Blood (dipstick)

Negative (67%). Trace (33%)

WBC (sediment exam)

Negative (65%). 0-1/HPF (33%). 2-3/HPF (2%).

RBC (sediment exam)

Negative (57%). 0-1/HPF (39%). 2-10/HPF (4%).

Casts (sediment exam)

None (94%). Hyaline 0-2/HPF (4%).

 

Granular 0-2/HPF (2%)

Crystals (sediment exam)

None (100%)

Other (sediment exam)

Squamous epithelial cells 0-2/HPF (85%).

Urine Chemistry

Parameter

Mean

Range

Glucose (mg/dl)

8

4-13

Urea nitrogen (mg/dl)

2298

1101-4868

Creatinine (mg/dl)

183

55-430

GGT (U/L)

36

15-69

LDH (U/L)

17

7-36

Calcium (mg/dl)

12

1.6-22.0

Sodium (mEq/L)

216

79-510

Potassium (mEq/L)

62

35-119

Chloride (mEq/L)

257

134-351

Uric acid (mg/dl)

5.8

2.1-23.3

Urine osmolality (mOsmols/L)

1455

934-1897

Blood Values

Parameter

Mean

Range

Hematocrit (%)

43

39-45

NRBC/100WBC

0

0-1

Reticulocytes (%)

1

0-1.9

WBC (mm3)

5966

3800-9400

ESR @ 60

0

0-2

Fibrinogen (mg/dl)

231

153-398

Glucose (mg/dl)

107

87-125

Blood urea nitrogen (mg/dl)

38

28-55

Creatinine (mg/dl)

1.8

1.1-2.3

Total bilirubin (mg/dl)

0.1

0.0-0.2

Total serum protein (gm/dl)

6.2

5.3-6.8

GGT (U/L)

14

7-47

LD (L/D)

330

220-436

Calcium (mg/dl)

8.2

7.4-9.0

Sodium (mEq/L)

154

151-158

Potassium (mEq/L)

4.0

3.6-4.5

Chloride (mEq/L)

121

116-132

Serum osmolarity (mOsmols/L)

333

331-353

Speaker Information
(click the speaker's name to view other papers and abstracts submitted by this speaker)

Michael S. Renner, DVM
SeaWorld of Ohio, Aurora, OH, USA


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