Field Anesthesia of Juvenile Steller Sea Lions Using Inhalation Anesthesia
- Pharmacokinetics
Abstract
Between 1998 and 2008, 621 Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus, SSL) were captured underwater by SCUBA divers and anesthetized with isoflurane (n = 602) or sevoflurane (n = 19). We found significantly faster induction time (x ± SD) for sevoflurane (11 ± 6 min) compared to isoflurane (14 ± 6 min), as well as an interaction between anesthetists using the isoflurane protocol. Severe hypothermia with temperatures <35°C were measured in 22% of all animals, and had significant associations with month, length of anesthesia, and sex. Mortality rate was low (0.33%). We conclude that both isoflurane and sevoflurane anesthesia were effective for field anesthesia to safely handle and sample SSL.
Lian, M., Johnson, S, Gelatt, T., O’Hara, T., Beckman, K.B., Rea, L.D. 2018. Field anesthesia of juvenile Stellar sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) using inhalation anesthesia. Marine Mammal Science 34(1): 125-135.
Related Publications
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/cropped-images\/csl-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-3-2-318-2819-2252-1600897445.jpg","alt":"California sea lion","title":"Establishing Dosing Requirements for an Anti-Fungal Medication in Young Sea Lions","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/establishing-dosing-requirements-for-an-anti-fungal-medication-in-young-sea-lions","label":"Research Paper"}
Establishing Dosing Requirements for an Anti-Fungal Medication in Young Sea Lions
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Elephant seals\/2021\/cropped-images\/es-mizuna-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-5-70-2542-1985-1626807943.jpeg","alt":"northern elephant seal Mizuna","title":"Pharmacokinetic Study of Oral \u0190-Aminocaproic Acid in the Northern Elephant Seal","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/pharmacokinetic-study-of-oral-aminocaproic-acid-in-the-northern-elephant-seal","label":"Research Paper"}
Pharmacokinetic Study of Oral Ɛ-Aminocaproic Acid in the Northern Elephant Seal
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/2025\/cropped-images\/barrens-hs-photo-by-clive-beavis-c-the-marine-mammal-center-92-0-1270-992-1766172380.jpg","alt":"Pacific harbor seal","title":"Population pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of gabapentin identifies rapid plasma clearance in rehabilitated Pacific harbor seal pups","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/population-pharmacokinetics-of-a-single-oral-dose-of-gabapentin-identifies-rapid-plasma-clearance-in-rehabilitated-pacific-harbor-seal-pups","label":"Research Paper"}
Population pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of gabapentin identifies rapid plasma clearance in rehabilitated Pacific harbor seal pups
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/2025\/kickstart16498photo-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-3.jpg","alt":"California sea lion","title":"Meloxicam may induce nephrotoxicity in California sea lions with chronic domoic acid toxicosis","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/meloxicam-may-induce-nephrotoxicity-in-california-sea-lions-with-chronic-domoic-acid-toxicosis","label":"Research Paper"}
Meloxicam may induce nephrotoxicity in California sea lions with chronic domoic acid toxicosis
Read MoreRecent News
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/2021\/cropped-images\/hs-meringue-photo-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-2-117-0-1270-992-1744225251.jpg","alt":"Animal care volunteers gently position a feeding tube into a harbor seal pup\u2019s mouth.","title":"How Seal Milk and \u201cFish Smoothies\u201d Help Pups Grow Strong","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/how-seal-milk-and-fish-smoothies-help-pups-grow-strong","label":"Patient Update","date":"2026-04-29 09:41:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/2026\/csl-irving-pre-rescue-in-san-francisco-photo-by-katie-young-c-the-marine-mammal-center.jpg","alt":"A California sea lion pup is stranded on a sidewalk in front of a car.","title":"Sea Lion Irving Rescued on a San Francisco Street","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/sea-lion-irving-rescued-on-a-san-francisco-street","label":"Patient Update","date":"2026-04-17 14:50:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Sea otter\/cropped-images\/sea-otter-mom-pup-photo-c-brian-simuro-505-0-3387-2646-1618247266.jpg","alt":"sea otter mother and pup","title":"Meaningful Mother\u2019s Day Gifts for Ocean Lovers","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/eco-friendly-mothers-day-gifts-that-give-back","label":"News Update","date":"2026-04-03 02:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Elephant seal\/cropped-images\/wild-es-ano-nuevo-photo-by-clive-beavis-159-0-1270-992-1772151576.jpg","alt":"wild northern elephant seal at ano nuevo state park","title":"Avian Influenza Confirmed in Northern Elephant Seals","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/avian-influenza-confirmed-in-northern-elephant-seals","label":"News Update","date":"2026-02-26 01:00:00"}
