Harbor Seal Pup In Health Crisis

The following story about a harbor seal was shared with us by the Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles.

On May 17, 2022, Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles received a small harbor seal pup from Dockweiler beach.

Weighing only 9.6 kilograms (about 21.1 pounds), he was severely malnourished and dehydrated. He had small patches of tar on his fur and his white blood cell count was low. During his exam he was given an oral solution of EmerAid IC Piscivore for stabilization.

EmerAid IC Piscivore is MMCCLA hospital’s standard for initial nutritional supplementation. It provides easy-to-digest nutrients, which is important for animals who have gone through a period of starvation.

The seal was given EmerAid solution for the first 24 hours of hospitalization, which are the most critical for a small pup. He felt well enough to start eating fish the next day. He continued to eat well and put on weight.

He stayed at the hospital for another six weeks, where he more than tripled his weight. He was released on July 14, 2022, weighing 33.5 kilograms (about 73.8 pounds).