Health Diaries > Animal Health

October 7, 2006

A Dolphin With Scoliosis

Looks like humans aren't the only ones that can have scoliosis. Ayla, a 14 year old dophin in the Minnesota Zoo has a twisted spine that inhibits her breathing.

"It would predispose her to respiratory problems. She can't exhale quite as well as a normal animal so bacteria can get into her lungs and they don't probably blow out... they aren't exhales or expectorated as easily as they are in a normal animal."

She has been treated for respiratory problems several times. In June she was found to have bacteria in her blood and shadows in her lungs. Antibiotics were used successfully.

Dolphin with scoliosis recovering well from respiratory infection