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PATIENTS |
INDEX |
AND STAFF |
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ALBUM |
& SCOUTS |
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| piver | dare | pepper | bear | sharkey | avon | oakie | coquina | honey | hook |
| stacys | kiawah | baldy | bay | isle |
PEPPER
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(Chelonia mydas) ADULT - MALE |
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| THE INJURY | An adult male Green Sea Turtle found near Atlantic
Beach, NC.
He was floating and unable to submerge. No further details on the stranding at this time 7/4/99. |
| THE TREATMENT | NC State Sea Turtle Project Coordinator Ruth Boettcher
transported the sea turtle to the KBSTRRC.
He is receiving antibiotics (amikacin) and fluids. Current PCV is 25. The turtle is listing severely to one side. Suspect air in coelemic cavity. |
| UPDATE 7/15/99 | Pepper has temporarily set aside his vegetarian diet,
in favor of a sea turtle hospital favorite, squid. Has a good appetite
despite his list.
That's his tail curled over the rear flipper |
| UPDATE 8/4/99 | Pepper received a house call courtesy of the NC State
University College of Veterinary Medicine.
A portable X-Ray machine was used and blood was drawn from his tail. Additionally 19.2 Liters of air were aspirated from coelemic cavity. |
Click on images for enlargement
Pepper ready for X-Ray |
Portable X-ray machine |
Good Doctors hard at work |
Measured and weighed |
Blood sample from tail |
Turned for examination |
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| UPDATE 12/1/99 | The source of leaking air seemed to have self repaired.
Pepper is now able to remain submerged in a natural position.
 Now
for some reason Pepper has lost some scute protection,
exposing bone.PCV is 28% and Glucose is 100 mg/dl |
| UPDATE 3/28/00 | Due to sepsis, a major infection, body fluids collected
between bone and scutes, lifting the scutes and a thin layer of bone.
  
Thin layer of necrotic bone removed, reveals healthy tissue underneath 
Under-side of bone |
| UPDATE
4/28/00 |
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| UPDATE 6/21/00 |  
click for video clip Pepper gets a lift to a larger tank, outside, and stretches out. Can Sea Turtles experience joy? So it would seem. |
| UPDATE May,13 2001 |
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| UPDATE
July 14, 2001 |
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| Sept 2001 |  Just
weeks from release, Pepper receives flipper and PIT tags, and gives a small
blood sample, reluctantly. |
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