Final Disposition
Euthanized December 15, 2008
Turtle upon arrival at Hospital.
9/18 Turtle was brought to Mote for rehabilitation after being found in the Pithlachascotee River (New Port Richey, Florida. Turtle has wounds from a recent (~1 month) boat strike (fractured carapace and missing right front flipper), has fibropapillomatosis, and is quite anemic. Turtle has been started on medication and placed in shallow water.
9/19 Turtle began to eat today on its own.
9/26 Turtle is becoming more active and is eating well. A CT-scan, performed last night at Access Diagnostics of Sarasota, revealed no evidence of internal tumors.
10/6 Turtle still anemic but improving, surgery is being held off until it is more stable. Turtle is eating and gaining weight.
10/24 The turtle is scheduled for surgery in a week.
11/2 Turtle underwent laser removal of all tumors today. Surgery went well and turtle is recovering well.
11/25 Turtle is eating better and taking some of its food off the bottom.
12/08 Tumors have regrown on both eyes, carapace and on most of its body surfaces. Turtle still not diving to bottom.
12/15 Turtle has begun having neurologic symptoms, so it was euthanized. Necropsy revealed tumors in the lungs, liver, spleen, and brain.