Physical Examination: Physical examination An onsite physical examination is necessary, and can be challenging due to a variety of factors. Smaller animals will be easier to examine simply because they are easier to handle and restrain when conducting the examination. An animal that is still partially in the water is easier to turn onto its side to examine the underside, listen to heart and lungs, etc. An animal completely out of the water, unless very small, will be more difficult to manipulate. With a large whale that cannot be physically manipulated at all, the physical examination will be limited to those body parts that are exposed.
Skin condition and hydration Evaluate the skin condition of the animal. Normally, it should be wet and smooth like rubber. If the animal has been out of the water for sometime and the skin has been exposed to the air, wind, and heat of the sun, it may begin to look dry and wrinkled. With extended exposure it may begin to peel. It is therefore important to keep the skin wet and protected from the elements. It is also important to look closely at any sunburn patterns. For example, if the animal has sunburned skin only on the right side, this indicates the animal was floating right side up, which may be indicative of problems associated with the right lung.
Push down on the skin with fingers or hand to roughly check the animal’s current state of hydration. The skin of a well hydrated animal is firm to the touch, while those with possible dehydration are “squishy”. A more objective way of determining the state of hydration is through a blood profile. This takes time as a blood sample must be drawn and analyzed for the results, but it will give you precise information as to the degree the animal is dehydrated. Animals that are emaciated, have not been eating normally for some time, and/or are suffering from illness are likely to be dehydrated. Those that have stranded for other reasons (i.e. followed prey to shore, got 36 ‘lost’, etc.) or have recent injuries that are not life threatening are usually well hydrated.
