[NatureNS] seal eating rocks

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Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:13:10 -0300
From: Helene Van Doninck <helene.birdvet@gmail.com>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
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Some animals can exhibit "pica", or the ingestion of abnormal things if they
have metabolic issues or blood dyscrasias...just a thought
Helene

On 2011-03-28 8:54 AM, "Randy Lauff" <randy.lauff@gmail.com> wrote:

The surprise animal at the end of this year's Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
class was a Harbour Seal. The seal was found live in a "not good" condition
at Cribbons Point, Ant. Co., last semester. Shortly thereafter, it died and
was graciously delivered to me by DFO.

Last week, my students and I opened it up and found that its stomach and
oesophagus were both full of stones...up to a bit bigger than golf ball
size. Any ideas why a seal would eat rocks? My only guess was
desperation...for some reason, it could have been hungry, but couldn't catch
any thing? It had a decent layer of blubber, so I don't think it was
starving. Nothing else seemed wrong with it, though I am no vet.

Thoughts?
Randy
_________________________________
RF Lauff
Way in the boonies of
Antigonish County, NS.

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<p>Some animals can exhibit &quot;pica&quot;, or the ingestion of abnormal =
things if they have metabolic issues or blood dyscrasias...just a thought<b=
r>
Helene</p>
<p><blockquote type=3D"cite">On 2011-03-28 8:54 AM, &quot;Randy Lauff&quot;=
 &lt;randy.lauff@gmail.com&gt;=
 wrote:<br><br>The surprise animal at the end of this year&#39;s Comparativ=
e Vertebrate Anatomy class was a Harbour Seal. The seal was found live in a=
 &quot;not good&quot; condition at Cribbons Point, Ant. Co., last semester.=
 Shortly thereafter, it died and was graciously delivered to me by DFO.<div=
>


<br></div><div>Last week, my students and I opened it up and found that its=
 stomach and oesophagus were both full of stones...up to a bit bigger than =
golf ball size. Any ideas why a seal would eat rocks? My only guess was des=
peration...for some reason, it could have been hungry, but couldn&#39;t cat=
ch any thing? It had a decent layer of blubber, so I don&#39;t think it was=
 starving. Nothing else seemed wrong with it, though I am no vet.</div>


<div><br></div><div>Thoughts?</div><div>Randy<br clear=3D"all">____________=
_____________________<br>RF Lauff<br>Way in the boonies of<br>Antigonish Co=
unty, NS.<br>
</div>
</blockquote></p>

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