Gabe

Species: Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)

Arrival Date: February 22, 2021
Stranding Location: Fort Pierce, FL

Initial Weight: 9.06 lbs.
Current Weight: 11.11 lbs.

Issue: Buoyancy Disorder, Trauma

Gabe is a juvenile green sea turtle patient that was found floating in Fort Pierce. The turtle has old trauma to its caudal carapace from an unknown cause. Radiographs also revealed a large amount of gas in the turtle’s intestines. Gabe will receive treatment and be closely monitored by hospital staff with routine bloodwork.

PROGRESS KEY:

Good Condition
Fair Condition
Poor Condition

Patient requires continued treatment but is progressing well.

Minor adjustments have been made to the patient's treatment.

Patient is off all medications.

PROGRESS NOTES:

11/08/2021 - Gabe was transferred to Gumbo Limbo Nature Center on November 3 for evaluation in deeper water in the hopes of being released. If the turtle does well in a deep tank, Gabe will potentially be released in the near future.

11/01/2021 -

10/25/2021 -

10/11/2021 -

10/04/2021 - Gabe has been making good progress. The treatment for gut dysbiosis has been successful and we are now focusing on the behavioral components of the patient’s buoyancy disorder. Gabe’s prognosis remains good.

09/27/2021 -

09/20/2021 -

09/13/2021 -

09/06/2021 - Gabe has been making good progress. The turtle’s buoyancy disorder continues to be challenging to treat due to unusual aspects of its behavior. Gabe is undergoing treatment for suspected intestinal dysbiosis, which is likely contributing to this patient’s buoyancy disorder. Gabe’s prognosis remains good.

08/30/2021 -

08/23/2021 -

08/16/2021 -

08/09/2021 - Gabe has been making good progress. The turtle’s buoyancy disorder continues to be challenging to treat due to unusual aspects of its behavior. Gabe remains with enrichment structure in its tank to promote normal behavior and is slowly making progress in that regard. Gabe’s prognosis remains good.

08/02/2021 -

07/26/2021 -

07/19/2021 -

07/09/2021 -

07/02/2021 - Gabe has been making good progress. The turtle’s buoyancy disorder has been challenging to treat due to unusual aspects of its behavior. Gabe remains with an external weight and enrichment structure in its tank to promote normal behavior. Gabe’s prognosis remains good.

06/25/2021 -

06/18/2021 -

06/11/2021 -

06/04/2021 - Gabe has been making excellent progress. The turtle's external carapacial weight has been removed and additional enrichment features have been added to its tank to encourage diving behavior. Gabe's prognosis remains good.

05/28/2021 -

05/21/2021 -

05/14/2021 -

05/07/2021 - Gabe has been making excellent progress and continues with an external weight on its carapace to treat mild buoyancy disorder. Overall, the turtle is in improving health. Gabe’s prognosis remains good.

04/30/2021 -

04/23/2021 -

04/16/2021 -

04/09/2020 -

04/02/2020 - Gabe has made excellent progress since its acute deterioration episode upon admission. The turtle’s kidney function has normalized and its buoyancy disorder has improved significantly. Gabe’s prognosis is good.

03/25/2020 -

03/19/2021 -

03/11/2020 -

03/04/2021 -Gabe’s clinical status deteriorated shortly after admission to the hospital. Emergency resuscitation was successful, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and the turtle has made significant progress. We are currently treating Gabe’s persistent buoyancy disorder and kidney disease. Gabe’s prognosis is good.

02/22/2020 - New Patient