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Case Synopsis for Kahlua
aka ST10160
Species: Green (Chelonia mydas)
Age Class: Juvenile
Gender: Unknown
Date Stranded: Oct. 25, 2010
Location of Stranding: Sebastian Inlet in Brevard County
Date of Arrival: Oct. 26, 2010
Number of Days of Care:
Final Disposition: Turtle was humanely euthanized after failing to respond to treatment.
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Comments/Disposition:
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10/26
Kahlua arrived today at the hospital weak and
emaciated. The turtle suffers from many fibropapilloma tumors on both
eyes and
all four flippers. Upon admission, the turtle received fluids, was
X-rayed and given a fresh-water
dip to remove many leeches. 10/28 The turtle has
started to eat squid and sea
grass. 10/30 Kahlua had laser surgery to remove the
tumors on the upper half of
the body and eyes. Once in surgery, one eye had to be removed because
one of the
tumors had deeply penetrated into the eye. The turtle was dry docked
over night
and was placed in the water in the morning. Kahlua is weak and is trying
to
adjust to only having one eye. Recovery from the surgery will be a slow
process. 11/28 Kahlua continues to slowly recover. The
turtle has not started to eat on its own and is being tube fed twice
daily. The last bloodwork submitted showed a small improvement within
the chemistries. Kahlua is getting stronger and we hope the turtle will
begin eating soon. 12/13 Kahlua continues to be tube fed daily and to very slowly heal from surgery. 12/28 Unfortunately, Kahlua did not heal from surgery. After much discussion and many tests, we determined that the best course of action and most humane thing to do was to euthanize Kahlua. The necropsy (an animal autopsy) showed an overall breakdown and failure of the kidneys, lungs and heart, confirming our theory that it was best to humanely euthanize the animal.
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