Rehabilitating Avanti, a Harbour Seal

by Jeff Lederman

      Avanti was an injured harbor seal weaner that had been found stranded on a beach in the San Juan Islands. He had significant structural and functional abnormalities. Structurally, Avanti had an abnormal kyphotic "hump" in his lumbar spine. Functionally, he held his body in a position of fixed flexion [possible spinal trauma] and sometimes lateral flexion left, so he had trouble with all aspects of locomotion including swimming, hauling out and moving on land.

SEPT-22
      The first day at the center, Avanti's wounds were cleaned with HyperCal solution (Hypericum and Calendula tinctures mixed with water, 1 to1 to 10). He was given frequent doses of homeopathic China to help counter the effects of dehydration, homeopathic Pyrogenium for infection, began a course of antibiotics and was tubed with electrolytes every 4 hours. Twice a day the electrolytes contained herbal Echinacea tincture to help boost immunity and acidophilus to replace the intestinal bacteria killed by the antibiotics.

SEPT-23
      His weight was 24 pounds, or about 50% or less of the weight at which he would have been weaned. There were numerous infected punctures and slashes on Avanti's lower torso. Radiographs revealed a possible cracked sternum and diminished disc space between three upper lumbar vertebra. The fecal floatation exam for parasites was negative, and the blood report indicated a serious chronic infection with a WBC of 42,000. Avanti had no movement in his lower torso, but had movement in his tail.

SEPT-27
      Rolfing was included in Avanti's rehabilitation protocol in order to rebalance his structure, release any soft tissue restrictions and regain normal function. Rolfing is a soft tissue manipulation technique and a neuromuscular education tool used most often with humans in attempts to align the physical structure so it can function as efficiently as possible. In the beginning, Rolfer Gonya Klein established that the short term goals for Avanti were to release the gross soft tissue restrictions that were keeping him in the fixed position of flexion and lateral flexion left. This was done to take the stress off the injury and promote healing. At the same time the goal was to rebalance the structure so that Avanti could regain his normal movement patterns.

OCT-4
      Previously, Avanti had begun a course of Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a Chinese herbal formulae originated 1500 years ago for improper physical development in children and lower back problems. He was also given high potency homeopathic Nux Vomica for spinal trauma and homeopathic Hypericum for nerve damage.

      As the abdominal muscles and lateral flexors began to release, you could see that the increased kyphotic hump was decreasing and that extension was returning to Avanti's resting posture.

OCT-11
      As Avanti began to show signs of improvement the goals of Rolfing became more specific and more functional. They included releasing the deeper spinal [paraspinals], hip and hind flipper soft tissue while using passive range of motion to reeducate the nervous system for normal movement.

NOV-3
      As Avanti began to utilize new movement patterns, it was apparent that he was still dependent on his front flippers. To promote normal functional movement and to help Avanti accomplish motor tasks while reducing dependency on his front flippers, wide neoprene straps wrapped his front flippers to his rib cage so that he could only swim with the use of his hind flippers and torso.

NOV-8
      The neoprene restraints were effective, forcing Avanti to propel himself with powerful thrusts from his lower torso and tail. We recognized the stress of this procedure so we limited it to one or two short sessions every other day. Within two weeks, Avanti's swimming patterns were indistinguishable from the other seals in the pool.

NOV-20
      When Avanti was well into weaning weight, 65 lbs., he had developed good movement patterns with good strength. Radiographs revealed healthy well spaced vertebrae, so we felt confident that Avanti had made a recovery strong enough to be returned to the wild.

Avanti is released!