What kinds of diseases do sea lions get?
Because they are mammals, they get diseases similar to those found in humans, such as pneumonia, cancer, bacterial infections, and viral infections. For example, sea lions get leptospirosis, a bacterial infection similar to the one cats and dogs are vaccinated against. They are often infested by lung, heart and gastrointestinal parasites. Injuries include natural ones, inflicted by other sea lions or their predators. Human-caused injuries include entanglement in fishing gear (nets or hooks) or plastic debris, and wounds from boat propellers, bullets or buckshot.
