Sea Otter Pup Gets an X-Ray

Via Alaska SeaLife Center, which writes:

During our weeks of caring for Un’a, the orphaned female sea otter pup from Homer, our veterinary and animal care teams have been closely monitoring her arm injury.

Radiographs revealed an unusual growth plate fracture near her elbow (a Salter-Harris type II fracture), which, to our knowledge, has not been seen in otters before.

While she sometimes holds her arm at a slight angle, she’s using it regularly and shows no signs of discomfort. Luckily for Un’a, floating is a big part of her day, and it means minimal weight on the injury.

In the wild, this could have been a serious setback. But under professional care, we’re optimistic it won’t impact her long-term welfare. Our team will continue to observe her closely and carefully consider options, including surgery, if she shows signs of pain or limited use.

These photos show Un’a during a recent veterinary exam under sedation. While she was asleep, our team carefully assessed her injury through physical manipulation, took radiographs, and used a K-laser to help promote tissue healing—all before she woke up.