This is Mishka. She’s the only asthmatic otter in the world — that we know of.
What’s more, the one-year-old has learnt to use an asthma inhaler. Mishka’s medicine is exactly the same kind that humans use.
“These lungs here, you can see, have more white in them. In a normal radiograph of a sea otter, you wouldn’t be able to see those things,” explained Dr Lesanna Lahner, who diagnosed Mishka.
And how did Seattle Aquarium — home for little Mishka — teach the little otter such a complex task? With food of course. Her trainer, Sara Perry, uses tasty treats to teach Mishka to push her nose on the inhaler and take a deep breath.
Sadly, Mishka will probably need an inhaler for the rest of her life. But thanks to the medicine she receives, at least it’ll be long.
