Nerds
- Patient Status
- Current
- Date Found
- October 24, 2020
- Location
- Pasco County
- Reason for Rescue
- Entanglement
Initial Assessment
- Weight
- 5.08 kg (11.2 lbs)
- SCL (Straight Carapace Length)
- 35.1 cm
- Exam Findings
- Active & ingested fishing line; Minor pap tumors present.
- Initial Treatment
- Received vitamins, anti-inflammatory medicine & fluids.
Nerds’ Story
Nerds is a juvenile, green sea turtle who was found entangled in a fishing line in Pasco County. The fishing line was initially wrapped around Nerds’ neck. Nerds also ingested the line which can cause serious gastrointestinal issues. Our vet team was able to successfully remove the line, orally, after X-rays confirmed there was no hook. Nerds’ initial treatment includes fluids, anti-inflammatory and vitamin injections. It is important to remember to always properly dispose of your fishing gear!
Treatment Updates
- 10.27.20
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Nerds was offered a sample of fish, and ate all of it quickly! An official diet will be started tomorrow. We are continuing to do glucose checks and are giving fluids if needed.
We are also continuing to monitor Nerds’ swim time and are slowly increasing the time out of the kiddie pool and into deep water!
- 10.31.20
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Nerds is eating great, and was given a diet increase! Nerds is also able to be in deep water all day and overnight and is resting on the bottom!
- 11.3.20
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Continuing to do well. Diet was increased. A CT scan was performed and no internal pap tumors were observed!
- 11.7.20
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Nerds is continuing to improve and eat well! Diet was increased.
- 11.20.20
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Nerds is improving and has been cleared to have surgery to remove his pap tumors!
- 11.24.20
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Nerds was placed under general anesthesia and all of his pap tumors were successfully removed with our CO2 laser. He is recovering well! We will be monitoring the surgical sites for healing and tumor regrowth over the next few weeks.
- 12.17.20
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Nerds’ surgical sites are healing well!
- 1.21.21
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His medications were adjusted based on recent lab-work. We will recheck lab-work next week to see progress.
Nerds is continuing to do well!
All marine turtle footage taken in Florida was obtained with the approval of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) under conditions not harmful to marine turtles. Footage was acquired while conducting authorized conservation activities pursuant to FWC MTP-19-172.