Contingency Plan for Hawaiian Monk Seal Unusual Mortality Events

A-7
the needle still and attach the extension set firmly. An assistant should connect the extension set to the
syringe.
Collect 35 - 105 cc of whole blood by slowly drawing upward on syringe. Bubbles in syringe indicate your
needle/extension set or extension set/syringe connections are not secure. This should be corrected as it may
lead to hemolysis and poor filling. When finished collecting blood, disconnect syringe from the extension
set, and immediately remove needle from the seal.
When filling tubes, remove caps (take care to keep inside top of cap from making contact with anything),
tilt tubes and slowly push blood out of syringe and down side of tube to prevent lysis. First fill LTT and
GNTT 3/4 full to allow for proper ratio of blood to anti coagulant, immediately replace cap, and mix the
specimen by gently inverting the tube several times to thoroughly mix additive and blood. Fill scintillation
or teflon vial (for toxicology) with 5-6 mL of whole blood. Then fill SST with remainder of blood. If
special tubes for other studies are required, fill them accordingly.
During restraint, closely monitor respiratory rate, cardiac rate, eyes, and body movements and temperature
of the seal being handled. Changes in temperature, breathing, and heart rate, unresponsive eyes, seizures,
muscle weakness or spasms, and rigid/flacid flippers may indicate severe stress or shock. If this happens,
ABORT the procedure immediately. THE VETERINARIAN ON SITE WILL DIRECT
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AS NECESSARY. Emergency procedures may include:
a) moving away from the animal to avoid any added stress
b) using emergency equipment to establish an airway
c) cooling the seal by drenching with water
d) loading emergency drugs (see below)
e) taking careful notes
f) treating for emergency conditions as necessary, i.e., capture myopathy, dehydration, cardiac arrest,
vomiting,
wounds, seizures
Notify Marine Mammal Research Program Chief of the situation as soon as possible.
Emergency Drug Doses
DRUG SEAL SIZE DRAW ADMINISTRATION
DOPRAM (Doxapram
hydrochloride; 20
mg/ml) Pup or juvenile 10 ml
DOPRAM (Doxapram
hydrochloride; 20
mg/ml) Subadult or adult 20 ml
Give 5 ml, slow IV
Repeat if needed
Give 10 ml, slow IV
Repeat if needed
ATROPINE sulfate
(1/120 gr) Pup or juvenile 1.5 - 3 ml Give 1.5 ml IV or 3 ml IM
ATROPINE sulfate
(1/120 gr) Adult 2.5 - 4 ml Give 1.5 ml IV or 3 ml IM
EPINEPHRINE
(1:1000) All sizes 5 ml
Give 1 ml/100-200 kg IM or IV,
repeat prn
DEXAMETHASONE
4 mg/ml All Sizes Give 10 ml /50-100 kg IM or IV
FLUMAZENIL
(Romazicon, 0.5
mg/5/ml) Pup or juvenile 1 bottle (5 ml)
FLUMAZENIL
(Romazicon, 0.5
mg/5/ml) Subadult or adult 1 bottle (5 ml)
Give 2.5 ml slow IV (over 60 sec)
Repeat in 2-3 min if needed
Give 2.5 ml slow IV (over 60-90 sec)
Repeat in 2-3 min if needed