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Sarasota, FL 34236
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Age Class | Juvenile |
Gender | Unknown |
Date Stranded | February 10, 2018 |
Location of Stranding | Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County |
Date of Arrival | February 12, 2018 |
Number of Days of Care | 26 days |
Euthanized
02/10/2018 Turtle was accidentally caught by a fisherman in the Indian River Lagoon in Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County. Animal had fishing line from a previous incident protruding from cloaca and wrapped around fibropapilloma tumors. Numerous tumors present, including one on the right eye. Animal was trasported to Brevard Zoo Sea Turtle Healing Center for triage. Radiographs showed that the animal had swallowed a metal fishing lead, but no hooks were present. Animal was given subcutaneous fluids, antibiotic injections, and a vitamin B injection.
02/12/2018 "Pig" was transferred by FWC to Mote for continued rehabilitation and to make space at Brevard Zoo's Sea Turtle Healing Center for new patients.
02/13/2018 Turtle foraged for all food offered. Will contiue to receive an antibiotic injection every 3 days due to an elevated white blood cell count.
02/16/2018 Radiographs show that the metal lead is currently in almost the same position in the GI tract.
02/28/2018 Pig continues to eat well and is active. There is a small amount of monfilament line protruding from cloaca - have thus far been able to cut a few inches of line as animal continues to pass it slowly. Turtle is defecating normally.
03/09/2018 Ultrasound demonstarted plication in the intestines, so the decision was made to surgically intervene to remove the line and metal lead. During surgery, two separate strings of monofilament and the metal lead were successfully removed. However, a significant amount of spider wire fishing line was present and was anchored and embedded in the intestinal wall. Due to the agressive pap tumor growth and severity of intestinal damage, the decision was made to humanely euthanize the animal.
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