Notch

Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)

(ST0353)

Age Class	Adult
Gender	Male
Date Stranded	July 26, 2003
Location of Stranding	Longboat Key, Florida
Date of Arrival	July 26, 2003
Number of Days of Care	14 days

Final Disposition

Died August 10, 2003

This turtle stranded on the north end of Longboat Key. It was extremely emaciated, extremely lethargic, and almost comatose. It was very anemic (PCV = 9). It was given antibiotics, IV fluids, EPO, Vitamin K, iron dextran, and atropine to increase the heart rate. Prognosis is guarded at this point. 7/28 Turtle appears a little more alert today. Continuing treatment. 8/1 Began tubing to give fluids, but had much difficulty opening his jaw. Probably some paralysis and muscle atrophy, similar to Stubby. Continuing to treat. 8/5 Doing physical therapy on jaw musculature and jaw is able to be opened much easier now. Anemia is worsening and we gave a blood transfusion yesterday. Turtle is receiving gruel via stomach tube. Still hanging in there. 8/10 This turtle has been going downhill slowly over the last few days and died quietly this afternoon. A necropsy is planned, but the turtle showed no response to treatment for the anemia.

Frontal view