Hi All A thirteen year old, wild, male bottlenose dolphin here in Adelaide, Australia is presenting with the following signs: loud, rasping breathing and arching its head out of the water when it breathes. It is listless and emaciated. We first noticed laboured breathing in this animal about six months ago and its condition is gradually getting worse.
Several years ago we had an elderly male who presented with similar signs and it eventually died. Necropsy revealed a tumor in its blow hole which occluded the airway. We have also had a dolphin which choked on a fish. Does anyone have any thoughts on alternative causes of this dolphin's problem which may make it appropriate to catch it for treatment? There is no captive facility here and any intervention would have to be a brief field based option. If there is no feasible treatment euthanasia may be considered. Many thanks for your assistance. Mike Bossley
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