A famous sea otter at the Vancouver Aquarium has been diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer that is thought to be quite rare among the species.
Milo the sea otter shot to Internet fame a few years ago, after a video was uploaded on YouTube showing him holding hands with another otter, Nyac.
Now he is facing a different kind of attention as veterinarians strive to help him fight off this disease.
Dr. Martin Haulena said while the biopsies have not confirmed 100 per cent Milo has lymphoma, he is pretty sure that is what the otter is suffering from.
“There have been no live sea otters that have been treated and diagnosed,” he said, “but there aren’t that many around.” He explained there have been three “highly suspicious cases” in free-ranging otters in California, but there is not enough data available on which to base any conclusions.
Milo, who is 12, is showing signs of suffering from cancer said Haulena. “Cancer is a debilitating disease,” he said. “He is definitely showing signs of being sick, he’s tired. His lymph nodes are quite enlarged.”
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Milo has already started treatment, which Haulena has tailored to him from the knowledge of what they know about sea otters. “We came up with what we feel is the best chemo/therapeutic plan for him,” he said.
He is separate from the other otters at the moment, but visitors should be able to see him again soon.
“As long as his attitude remains good I’m pretty confident he’ll be able to go back on display,” said Haulena.
Milo and Nyac became famous around the world due to the video uploaded below. Nyac died in 2008.
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