Objective: To determine effects of duration of capture and sample-handling procedures on blood analytes in free-ranging bottlenose dolphins.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Animals: 154 free-ranging bottlenose dolphins of various ages and both sexes.
Procedures: Blood samples were drawn from each dolphin within 10 minutes of capture and before release and analyzed by use of a portable analyzer with a single-use 8-analyte disposable cartridge. Analyte values were compared according to duration between sample acquisition and analysis (time to run [TTR]) and duration between net encirclement and sample acquisition (time to bleed [TTB]).
Results: Neither TTB nor TTR significantly affected sodium or chloride concentration. Potassium concentration was not significantly affected by TTR, whereas the effect of TTB was significant. Glucose, total CO(2), HCO(3), Hct, and base excess of extracellular fluid values were significantly affected by TTR. Increased TTB resulted in significantly increased total CO(2), HCO(3), and base excess when TTR was kept within 10 minutes.
Conclusions and clinical relevance: The effect of TTB on certain acid-base and electrolyte values was readily measured in free-ranging bottlenose dolphins, and such values may provide a reference range for those variables.