Oldest Seal's Wound Heals With Cold Plasma

Pet owners with aging animals can ask their vet whether contact-free wound treatments fit their pet's care plan.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Pet Health

Oldest Seal's Wound Heals With Cold Plasma

Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport says Skinny, a 51-year-old harbor seal and the world's oldest known living Pacific harbor seal, has fully healed from eye-removal surgery. Skinny's wound was treated with a cold plasma device added in August after the surgical site reopened.

Why it matters

The recovery shows that a contact-free cold plasma treatment can be added to wound care for an aging animal without extra anesthesia, a benefit for Oregon's animal-care community. The team turned to the method to promote healing while limiting long-term antibiotic use that could create resistance or require re-anesthesia.

Skinny's eye lens became displaced in late April, and the eye was surgically removed. The wound reopened after it had appeared to heal, and the team then added kINPen VET cold plasma treatment in August without extra anesthesia.

The players

Oregon Coast Aquarium

A Newport, Oregon aquarium opened in 1992 with about 300 species and 15,000 animals for visitors to connect with, and home to Skinny since 1975.

neoplas VET

The company that makes the kINPen VET cold plasma device, currently available in Europe and expanding into the United States market.

The details

Skinny received oral and topical antibiotics, daily antiseptic flushes, and two rounds of infrared laser therapy before the team added the device. The kINPen VET is a gentle, contact-free cold plasma treatment that was applied on top of the existing wound-care regimen. Its use was meant to speed healing while reducing reliance on long-term antibiotics.

1975: Skinny was found stranded as a pup on a Washington state beach.
Late April 2026: Skinny's eye lens was displaced, leading to eye removal surgery.
August 2026: Cold plasma treatment was added to Skinny's wound care.
Early October 2026: Skinny's wound fully healed.
November 3, 2026: The Oregon Coast Aquarium announced Skinny's full recovery.

The Home Front

Cold plasma devices like the kINPen VET are part of a growing set of non-drug tools for managing animal wounds. The Oregon case shows that such a tool can be used in an aging marine mammal without re-anesthesia.

If you have an aging pet with a wound that is slow to heal, ask your veterinarian whether non-drug options such as cold plasma treatment are available and appropriate. Keep a record of any antibiotics and wound-care steps your pet has received so your vet can plan the next stage of care.

The takeaway

Skinny's recovery shows how a contact-free wound treatment can support healing in an aging animal without repeated anesthesia. For any pet with a non-healing wound, the next step is an appointment with a licensed veterinarian.