Introduction

On August 24, 1989, two beaked whale (Mesoplodon spp.) calves stranded on a public beach in San Francisco, California. They were transferred a distance of 50 miles to a rehabilitation tank at Marine World Africa USA. Because little is known about young beaked whales, the age and species were not determined initially.

A physical examination was carried out on both whales when they arrived at the rehabilitation facility. One whale was noticeably larger than the other, weighing approximately 309 kg, and measuring 4.5 meters in length. The smaller whale weighed almost 225 kg, and was 4 meters in length. Both whales had numerous round full-skin thickness lesions on their ventral sides, believed to be the results of the bites of cookie cutter sharks (Isistius brasiliensis). Both whales had harsh lungs, and the larger whale was breathing erratically and in apparent shock when it arrived. Both whales were treated with antibiotics, steroids, vitamins, and IV fluids before being transferred to the rehabilitation tank.

Once in the salt water rehabilitation tank, each whale was assisted in swimming by two people holding a towel under the animals' head, and walking them around in water that was one meter deep. Both whales were weak, but started to swim on their own after about 20 minutes. The animals were left to swim on their own and the water level in the tank was raised to 2 meters.

Summary

Since the age of the whales was not determined initially, the animals were offered squid and small fish the first two days of rehabilitation. The animals were treated initially with 5.25 million units of benzathine penicillin IM once a day for two days, and were then put on 1000 mg Gentocin IM SID for 4 days. Both whales were then put on 6 grams of IV Rocephin SID. The larger whale was treated with Rocephin for 8 days, and then put on 1500mg ciprofloxacin PO BID for his last two days of life. He died after 16 days of rehabilitation attempts. The smaller whale was treated with Rocephin IV SID for 4 days, then 6 grams Rocephin IM SID for six more days. He was then put on 1500 mg ciprofloxacin PO BID for 8 days. He died after 25 days of rehabilitation attempts.

Both whales had a strong suckle reflex. The smaller whale accepted fish, only to blow bits of fish out of his blowhole moments after eating it. Both whales were tubed a fish and squid slurry. This too, was blown from the blowhole of the smaller whale. Each morning for six days, each whale was given 1 to 2 liters of lactated ringers IV, and up to 500 cc of 20% fat emulsion (Liposyn or Interlipid) IV. It was finally determined, after 9 days of rehabilitation efforts, that these whales were probably not juveniles, as was first assumed, but were neonates, perhaps only a few months old. A whale formula was made up consisting of ground herring and smelt, mixed with Borden's Multimilk, safflower oil, peanut oil lecithin and vitamins. This formula was well tolerated, and seemed to be well digested. The smaller whale was tube fed 2 liters of whale formula BID, and the larger whale was given 3.5 liters of the formula BID.

On the third day of rehabilitation, the larger of the two calves developed a subcutaneous emphysema that would not allow him to dive. His lungs were clear, and he was bright and alert. Needles could be put into his skin which would allow the air to escape. Several small catheters were placed under his skin, and were attached to heimlich valves that were tied to a net 'It-shirt" that was fashioned for the whale. Each day the valves would be attached to a pneumovac suction unit in an effort to reduce the collection of air as much as possible. Cultures done from fluids collected from the sub cutis were negative for bacteria. This animal survived for 16 days, and seemed fairly strong even on the day he died.

The smaller whale had his greatest problems tolerating the food he was fed. He had repeatedly blown bits of fish and formula from his blowhole. He had a strong suckle reflex, and a suitable bottle and nipple arrangement was finally found after 18 days. He would accept all but his medication from specialized tube and syringe. His medication was given via gavage. Once he was nursing on his own, he no longer vomited formula through his blowhole.

He had a very stable pattern for the entire rehabilitation time of diving for 5 to 8 minutes and then surfacing to take several breaths. It was feared that he had aspirated fish or formula into his lungs during the early days of rehabilitation. On auscultation, his lungs were clear, but developed a slight harshness to them the last two days of his life. He survived for 25 days.