Wild Harbor Seal Receives Eye Treatment
Boston -- Biologists and veterinarians at the New England Aquarium and Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine announce the successful treatment of a wild harbor seal pup with a severe eye infection. A young male harbor seal, who was rescued in mid-May from Pemaquid Point, Maine, is the first seal to be treated using a specially-designed ophthalmic device that delivers medicine directly to the eye. This seal pup, simply called #7, will be released to the wild about noon on December 9 at Hardings Beach, Chatham, MA (Cape Cod). He will be fitted with a tag and tracked by researchers via satellite.
When pup #7 arrived at the New England Aquarium, he was underweight and suffering from a severe eye infection. He was fed a high-calorie, high-fat formula that mimics the nourishment he would have received from his mother, and he was treated with topical eye medication and oral antibiotics for the infection. Unfortunately, his eye condition worsened. A seal's ocular muscles are very strong, and he was closing his eyes tightly due to the infection. Since biologists could not administer the medicine effectively, another method had to be devised.
Under the direction of his general practitioner Dr. Rose Borkowski, Tufts University Staff Veterinarian, and Tufts Veterinary Ophthalmologist Dr. Anthony Moore, on July 9, 1998, pup #7 was anesthetized and tubes were surgically inserted under both of his eyelids. The tubes were fastened to the top of #7's head, and small vials were attached to inject the medication.
This created an ophthalmic device, called a subpalpebral lavage system which is often used with horses, that delivered the medication directly to his eyes, even when the eyes were tightly shut. The device resembled a simple intravenous hookup on the top of his head.
Although the tubing system fit closely to #7's head, veterinarians and biologists were not sure if the device would work and worried that the seal would scratch it with his flipper or somehow remove it while swimming, two concerns that don't apply with horses. However, aside from getting strange looks from other rehabilitating seals, #7 fared extremely well.
The implanted device allowed his caretakers to administer medication at feeding times and enabled him to swim in the pool in between treatments. Due to the severity of the infection, the device remained in place for 14 weeks. Twice during that time, #7 traveled to Tufts for exams where Dr. Moore removed scar tissue from #7's eyes. By September, his eyes began to clear. The device was removed on October 21, 1998.
His sight has been tested by his ability to catch live fish and navigate without injury in his rehabilitation pool. He is eating well, has reached a healthy weight, and is ready to return to life in the wild. If these heroic efforts to help #7 proved unsuccessful, he would have suffered permanent sight damage and could not have been reintroduced to the ocean.
Since both wild seals and those residing at zoos and aquariums frequently suffer from eye ailments, the successful use of this device should benefit other aquatic animals worldwide. By tracking #7 after his release, researchers hope to learn the traveling patterns of wild harbor seals, and better understand their habits after the rescue and rehabilitation process. The tag is funded through WhaleNet's Satellite Tagging Observation Program at Wheelock College. Follow #7's travels at
The New England Aquarium/Fleet Bank Marine Animal Rescue Team responds to reports of hundreds of marine animals each year. If you encounter a wild seal on the beach, remember that seals are as comfortable on land as in the water, so give it plenty of space. Do not pour water on the seal or move it to the water. If there is any doubt about its health, call the Aquarium's 24-hour Marine Animal Rescue Hotline, (617) 973-5247. In most cases, you will be asked to observe the animal for 24 hours. Often, the seal is merely resting on shore, or in the case of a seal pup, is waiting for its mother. If the Aquarium's experts determine that the animal is sick or in trouble, a rescue team will be dispatched. The Aquarium is authorized by the National Marine Fisheries Service to intervene on behalf of marine animals.
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Color snapshots and beta footage of #7's treatment is available by calling Sue Knapp in the Aquarium's Communications Department at 617-973-5213, [email protected].
Rehabilitating Harbor Seal Eye Treatment, May-December 1998 Key Veterinarians and Animal Care Staff
Dr. Rose Borkowski, Staff Veterinarian, Tufts Vet. Med. Consulting Veterinarian, New England Aquarium phone: 508-839-5395 - ask for exotics [email protected]
Dr. Anthony Moore, Ophthalmologist, Tufts Vet. Med. phone: 508-839-5395 - ask for Ophthalmology
Dr. Andrew Stamper, Head Veterinarian, NE Aquarium, Boston phone: 617-973-5273, [email protected]
Connie Merigo, NEAq/Fleet Bank Marine Animal Rescue phone: 617-973-6551, [email protected]
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