International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

contain glucose rather than sucrose, could be substituted (in cases where the aforementioned
solutions can not be acquired) for temporary oral use only. They can be purchased in a drug or
grocery store. [Sucrose (e.g. table sugar) is a disaccharide and is poorly digested by most young
animals (Gerson & Point, 1986). It is not recommended for use.]
Unfortunately little information is available on precise giant otter body temperatures (see under
Chapter 1). No rectal body temperature of healthy giant otters (neither cubs nor adults) that are
not under anesthesia or immobilization have been found or been reported. This and additional
physiological information should be gathered from handreared cubs so it can be used for
comparison to adults and other cubs and used to increase general knowledge.
The cub’s external body temperature should be warm to the touch, i.e. not hot or cold. A small
finger could be inserted into the cub’s mouth to also help determine temperature. The cub’s
mouth should not feel cold or hot to the touch. If it does, see below. General references can be
drawn from the following information. “Body temperature [of the neonate] should not be much
more than 1 o -2 o F below the normal adult temperature; if it is, the animal may be hypothermic
enough to require attention…” (Read & Meier 1996). “At a rectal temperature