Notes

1. Normal values for postpartum pH and blood gases of the newborn killer whale are needed.
2. Metabolic acidosis is first compensated by using up HCO₃^-. By the time respiratory compensation is needed to blow off CO₂, the animal is usually terminal.
3. How long can a newborn go without food? Human babies with no nourishment live 18-20 days. A cetacean could probably live 14 days.
4. Evidence of suckling - feces is yellow. If not suckling, feces tend to be green and contain mucous.
5. A non-suckled female will not dry up for weeks postpartum.
6. Newborns have a high white blood cell count with many segmented neutrophils when less than 2 weeks of age.
7. Newborns normally have a low total protein.
8. Killer whales have a poor white blood cell response to disease. Cetaceans do not have a splenic reservoir of leukocytes so they don't show an elevated leukon on stress as seals do.
9. Starving babies should be started on D₅W, then slowly worked up to a higher calorie diet.

   Gradually get them onto formula by starting with 5%, then 10%, then 25% and up to 50% formula and so on.