Spice

Species: Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)

Arrival Date: December 25, 2019
Stranding Location: Jupiter Island, FL

Initial Weight: 3.92 lbs.
Current Weight: 4.71 lbs.

Issue: Intestinal Buoyancy Issue

Spice is a juvenile green sea turtle patient that was found floating and unable to dive in the Intracoastal Waterway near Jupiter Island. There is a healed injury to the head, probably due to a predator injury, long before arrival to The Sea Turtle Hospital at LMC. Radiographs show a large amount of gas in the intestines that is most likely due to an intestinal infection. Spice will receive antibiotics and be monitored closely as the buoyancy disorder is treated.

PROGRESS KEY:

This turtle is progressing well and responding to therapy as desired.

There is a minor issue that we are working to resolve.

More details to follow.

PROGRESS NOTES:

05/15/2020 -Spice was released!

05/08/2020 -Spice has been tagged and will be released in the near future.

05/01/2020 -Spice has been taken off all antibiotics.

04/24/2020 -Spice's white cell count is remaining normal.

04/17/2020 -Spice's white cell count is now down to normal.

04/09/2020 - Spice's white cell count is coming down with the new treatment.

03/26/2020 -Spice's white cell count has continued going up so an additional antibiotics has been added.

03/19/2020 -Spice's white cell count has continued going up so the turtle was put back on antibiotics.

03/12/2020 -Spice's white cell count is on the high end of normal.

03/05/2020 -Spice's white cell count is remaining normal, so all treatment has been discontinued.

02/27/2020 -Spice’s white cell count is finally within the normal range.

02/20/2020 -Spice’s white cell count is remaining in high normal range

02/13/2020 -Spice’s white cell count is now in high normal range.

02/06/2020 -Spice’s white cell count is coming back down.

01/30/2020 -Spice's white cell count went up this week, so the treatment regimen was changed.

01/23/2020 -Spice's white cell count is down to normal.

01/16/2020 -Spice's white cell count is continuing to come down.

01/09/2020 -Spice's white cell count is coming down.

01/02/2020 - Spice seems to be responding well to treatment and is now able to submerge without difficulty.

12/25/2019 - New Patient