![]() After reviewing the feeding practices of this area we discovered the animals presenting with these odd neurologic clinical signs were the most aggressive eaters and, on occasion, were observed to induce the individual under treatment to regurgitate the fish containing medication. This community pool holds 13 California sea lions of varying ages and sexes. ![]() Differentials including vitamin E/selenium deficiency, domoic acid toxicity, and Zn toxicity were ruled out. ![]() Several days later another pool mate presented hunched with similar muscular fasciculations, followed by three others over the next six months. These clinical signs resolved within four hours without symptomatic therapy. Side effects diminished, and the animals' behaviors returned to near normal.Īpproximately three months after dispensing Haloperidol to the exhibit California sea lion, a pool mate presented with odd behaviors consisting of opisthotonus and fasciculations of the epaxial muscles. Both sea lions stopped regurgitating and within two months were back to target weights. Certain trained behaviors such as clapping and fine motor facial behaviors, such as smiling and tongue movements, appeared difficult and even required relearning. Soon after initiating therapy, both sea lions developed a stilted, stiff legged gate, moderate sedation and a shortened attention span. Within five days of instituting Haloperidol at 0.06 mg/kg orally twice daily given with one fish followed by multiple training and exercise sessions lasting about 30 minutes, regurgitation significantly diminished in one animal and resolved in the other. Placing the animals in competitive social grouping of conspecifics and medical intervention using Prozac (Fluoxetine®) at various doses and metoclopramide (Reglan®) and Cisapride® also failed to affect the behavior. Medical examinations including CBC, serum chemistries, heavy metal analysis, radiography, and endoscopy proved normal and training techniques such as placing the behavior on a stimulus control and then attempting to extinguish the behavior or ignoring the behavior failed to change the condition. Two California sea lions, one ten-year-old in a training program, and the other a three-year-old in an exhibit pool, presented for weight loss due to chronic regurgitation. With the exception of NMS, these side effects are reversible within 24 to 48 hours after drug withdrawal. Other, less specific side effects include sedation orthostatic hypotension. Specific sites of effect include the nigrostriatal tract responsible for extrapyramidal side-effects (EPS) such as tardive dyskinesia (TD, rhythmic involuntary movements of face and extremities), neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS, hyperthermia, and autonomic disturbances such as cardiac arrhythmias and dyspnea), pseudoparkinsonism signs (tremors, rigidity, and shuffling gait), and dystonias (neck muscle spasms, extensor rigidity of back muscles, hyperreflexia, torticollis, retrocollis, opisthotonos, dysphagia). As a group, these agents are dopamine receptor antagonist with varying degrees of selectivity among the cortical dopamine tracts. In low doses it has been a very effective antiemetic in humans. Haloperidol is an antipsychotic drug in the family of Phenylbutylpiperidines, structurally related to the Phenothiazines. In this paper we present successful treatment of regurgitation in two California sea lions using the antipsychotic drug Haloperidol and report side effects which may limit its use in a community setting. ![]() On occasion, individuals loose weight due to competition with conspecifics over the regurgitated material or loss of calories from regurgitated material dissipating into the water. In most instances, individuals consume the regurgitant and no problems arise. Regurgitation is sporadically observed with various cetaceans and pinnipeds, most notably killer whales ( Orcinus orca), false killer whales ( Pseudorca crassidens), Pacific walrus ( Odobenus rosmarus), and California sea lions ( Zalophus californianus).
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