Dialysis Fails; Whale Is Put to Sleep
A medical procedure normally used on human kidney patients failed to save a pilot whale, and the big mammal was put to sleep Sunday at Sea World.
Park veterinarian Dr. Jim McBain said officials decided to try peritoneal dialysis as a last-ditch effort to save Josie, a 2000-pound pilot whale believed to be about 15 years old. The animal was suffering from acute kidney failure.
The unusual procedure involved sticking tubes that were attached to fluid infusion bags into the whale’s abdomen. The fluid was forced into the abdomen, where it was supposed to absorb kidney toxins and then drain out.
“As far as we know, it has never been attempted in a whale. It was the only hope we had. But after two days of dialysis, we found we weren’t achieving the results we hoped for,” said McBain. Sea World veterinarians were assisted by two local doctors, experts in dialysis treatment, he added.
He said Josie’s condition continued to deteriorate and a decision was made to put her to sleep Sunday afternoon.
Josie had been at the park for about 12 years, but was not used in any of the shows. The animal was not bred while at Sea World, said McBain.
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