07-555-Lk Intake picture of plastron. Notice the algae and the bilateral
bruising common in severely cold-stunned turtles.


07-555-Lk "Dory" after being brought to the
NEAq from the Wellfleet Audobon Society.


Bronchoscopy being performed by veterinarian
Dr. Innis in the NEAq Animal Medical Center. 

07-555-Lk
12/01/07 Great Island
Intake temp: 53.6 F

This turtle arrived to the New England Aquarium with some sand in the left nares and beak. The turtle presented with scabbing on the right flipper elbow area with thickened skin and slight decrease in range of motion over the left flipper. Blood work showed metabolic and respiratory acidosis and hypoglycemia. Turtle taking good breaths while giving fluid therapy.

Radiographs showed that pneumonia was present in both lungs. Turtle had a blood culture that came back positive for Pseudomonas and Enterococcus current course of antibiotics should be effective against these organisms.

12/22/07 Update

This turtle is scheduled for a CT scan to get a better look at organs we can not see on radiographs.

1/15/08 Update

CT scan from Tufts University showed focal areas of consolidation of cranial lung fields. We also performed a bronchoscopy on the turtle as well (see image right) to get a better view of the lungs and to allow us to grow cultures of organisms in the lungs.