Seattle Aquarium’s veterinarian, Dr. Lesanna Lahner diagnosed the sea otter with asthma after determining she was having trouble breathing, according to Washington’s KingTV5 News. The doctor listened to her chest, took some blood work and got an x-ray of Mishka’s lungs.
Now Mishka is learning to use an inhaler, the same medication used in humans. Aquarium biologist Sara Perry is training Mishka to properly inhale the medication when the apparatus is put on her nose, using food as an incentive.
“We want to make this as fun as possible. Any kind of medical behavior you’re training, you want to make sure it’s nice and positive,” said Lahner.
USA Today is reporting that Peter Rabinowitz, a professor at the University of Washington in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health says that while it may seem novel that a sea otter can have asthma, Mishka’s illness has a connection to human health.
“More and more there seems to be this concept of what we’re calling “One Health,” which really means that there’s a connection between health of people and the health of other species,” said Dr. Peter Rabinowitz. “Sometimes those species can tell us there is a problem in the environment that could be important for human health as well.”
The incidence of asthma in humans in the United States has risen dramatically in the last decade, with researchers putting some of the blame for the increase on air quality.
The health of sea otters in Washington state dates back 40 years. In 1910, sea otters went extinct in the state due to hunting, and it wasn’t until the late 1960s that the marine creatures were reintroduced along the coast, says the BBC.
“Any time that happens and reduces the genetic diversity of a species that can affect their immune system, ability to fight off diseases or deal with environmental contaminants,” Lahner said.
This means that Mishka may have heightened sensitivities that can alert us to environmental changes. Her asthma diagnosis means that one-year-old Mishka will have to use an inhaler for the rest of her life.
