Otter (Lutrinae) Care Manual - Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Table 8: Common causes of deaths in L. Canadensis.
Cause of death Causal factors
Association of Zoos and Aquariums 51
Otter (Lutrinae) Care Manual
Heart disease Heartworm/death from heartworm treatment; Acute myocarditis;
Myofiber degeneration
Renal failure Etiology unknown; Amyloidosis; Pyelonephritis
Hepatic lipidosis
Adenocarcinoma
Transitional cell carcinoma (bladder)
Peritonitis Secondary to intestinal perforation from foreign body; Secondary
to GI perforation from ulcers
Diarrhea Unknown etiology; Clostridial endotoxin; Helicobacter (also
causing vomiting, weight loss); Salmonella
Gastric dilatation with volvulus
Pneumonia Often without identifying underlying cause
Anesthetic death
P. brasiliensis: Causes of death have included: leptospirosis, parvovirus, bronchopneumonia/pneumonia,
internal bleeding, gastroenteritis, jejunum invagination, severe inbreeding resulting in inherited thyroid
malfunction in pups, parental or older sibling neglect of, or mistreatment towards pups due to stress from
human disturbances or inappropriate insufficient land vs. water area and/or enclosure substrate
conditions, inappropriately conducted introductions of unfamiliar or temporarily separated otters, heart
failure, kidney failure, pyrometra, and exposure to continually very damp or wet conditions (Osmann &
Wisser 2000; Sykes-Gatz 2005, unpublished data; C.Osmann, personal communication).
Illnesses seen in this species include skin lesions, particularly on the tail and hind legs. These often
become infected with Staphylococcus spp. and typically respond well to topical and/or systemic
antibiotics (C.Osmann, personal communication). Progressive walking difficulties involving the lower back
or hind legs also are reported in this species, particularly in animals aged 4 years and over. Again, the
causal agent appears to be continued overexposure to hard surfaces. Other physical problems caused by
overexposure to hard or continuously wet or very damp conditions include foot pad abrasions, irritation of
the foot’s webbing, and poor coat condition (Sykes-Gatz 2005). These conditions can be caused or made
worse by exposure to coarse substrates.
For additional information on how to deal with separated animals, see pages 29 (A. cinereus), 31 (P.
brasiliensis) and 59. If one of the social otters (e.g. A. cinereus or P. brasiliensis) has to be separated for
an extended period, it may be best to house them with another individual. Prolonged isolation for this
species is not considered desirable. Extended separation of female L. canadensis may lead to
reintroduction issues; the reintroduction of these animals should proceed cautiously and follow the
standard introduction process (See Introduction/Reintroduction section).
Useful Veterinary References:
Baitchman, E.J. DVM, G.V. Kollias, DVM, PhD. 2000. Clinical anatomy of the North American river otter
(Lontra canadensis). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 31(4):473-483.
Kimber, K. DVM, G.V. Kollias DVM, PhD. 2005. Evaluation of injury severity and hematologic and plasma
biochemistry values for recently captured North American river otters (Lontra canadensis).
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 36(3):371-384.
Neiffer, D.L. VMD, E.C. Klein VMD, P.P. Calle VMD, M. Linn DVM, S. P. Terrell DVM, R. L. Walker DVM,
D. Todd AHT, C. C. Vice DVM, S. K. Marks DVM. 2002. Mortality associated with melarsomine