Turtwig

Chelonia Mydas

Stranding Date: 8/04/09

Stranding Location: St. Lucie Power Plant

Admission Note:Turtwig arrived with a healed prop wound to the anterior carapace and a new puncture wound to the posterior carapace. The turtle has bouyancy issues as a result of these injuries. Radiographs were taken and bloodwork has been sent out for evaluation. The turtle has been placed on antibiotics along with daily applications of silvedene to help heal some superficial injuries on the carapace. Initial Weight: 37.0 kg., 81.4 lbs.

Progres Note 12/14/09: Turtwig is off Cisapride, a medication that stimulates the digestive system.  Fecal output has slowed down and is irregular.  We are monitoring fecal output and will re-evaluateTurtwigs treatment plan as needed.

Progress Note:11/16/09: The good news continues. Turtwig is eating well and moving digested food through the intestines and passing large amounts eat day.  The medication, Cisapride, which stimulates the digestive tract, is obviously working.  We are beginning to decrease the frequency of administration and will watch the turtle to see if there are any changes.  If there are no negative changes we will continue to decrease the frequency of the medication and eventully discontinue.  At that point it is our hope that Turtwig will continue to pass waste and be released.

Progress Note 10/21/09: Great News !!! The medication seems to be working.  Turtwig is doing much better, stronger, eating well and we are seeing an increase in the turtle activity level in the water.  We will continue the Cisapride treatments and monitor Turtwig's progress.  Current weight: 26.1kgs.  57.42 lbs.

Progress Note 10/16/09: We have added an oral medication to Turtwig's treatment plan.  The medication, Cisapride, is being put into Turtwig's food each day.  Cisapride is used to stimulate the digestive system.  Since Turtwig has not passed any fecal material in several weeks and the surgery did not reveal an obstruction, we hope this will jump start the turtles sytem.

Progress Note 10/14/09:  Turtwig has suddenly become weaker and is having difficulty raising his head.  We have lowered the turtles water to take some of the stress off of Turtwig. Current weight 26.2 kgs. 57.64 lbs.

Surgical Note 10/6/09: Turtwig was in the O.R. today for exploratory surgery. The surgery was performed to see if there could be an obstruction preventing Turtwig from having bowel movements.  Turtwig did well through the surgery but no obstructions were found.  The turtle was doing well and was extubated at 5:00pm.  Turtwig will be dry docked tonight and returned to it's tank Wed. morning.

Progress Note 10/5/09: Current weight 28.2 kg. 62.04 lbs

Progress Note 10/2/09: Turtwig's bouyancy issues have not improved. The turtle is eating well but has not had a bowel movement in several weeks.  There is a possibility that an obstruction may be the cause. We will be taking Turtwig into the O.R. next week in an effort to locate the obstruction.

Progress Note 8/31/09: The small hole in turtwigs carapace has sealed itself off and there is no more air coming from the wound.  We still have concerns of spinal cord injury and intestinal issues for this turtle. Current weight: 33.50 kgs. 73.7 lbs.

Progress Note 8/10/09: Awaiting and MRI on Turtwig to assess the turtles bouyancy issues.

Turtwig's healed carapace wound.

Puncture wound on Turtwig's carapace.

Progress Note 8/6/09: Turtwig was placed in the water and seems to have a bouyancy issue.  This could be due to what appears to be a puncture wound in the carapace (see image above). We will keep a close eye on the turtle and treat it with antibiotics and  good nutrition.