Percy
- Patient Status
- Current
- Date Found
- February 3, 2021
- Location
- Honeymoon Island; Pinellas County
- Reason for Rescue
- Stranded on beach; cold body temperature
Initial Assessment
- Weight
- 3.76 kg (8.3 lbs)
- SCL (Straight Carapace Length)
- 32.1 cm
- Exam Findings
- Lethargic but responsive; cold body temperature. Large amount of algae coverage on carapace.
- Initial Treatment
- Received vitamins, antibiotics & fluids.
Percy’s Story
Percy is a juvenile, green sea turtle who was found stranded on Honeymoon Island in Pinellas County on February 3, 2021. Upon intake, Percy had a low body temperature which was due to the local area’s recent drop in air and water temperature. Percy’s initial treatment consists of slowly warming up his body temperature, vitamin injections, antibiotics, and fluids.
Treatment Updates
- 2.8.21
-
Percy was placed in water for a swim test. Due to his lethargy and floating, Percy was placed in a kiddie pool to help him achieve good breaths. We will continue to increase his swim time as he improves!
We are continuing to do glucose checks and give fluids if needed.
- 2.12.21
-
X-rays were performed and nothing obvious was seen!
We are continuing to do glucose checks and give fluids as needed.
- 2.15.21
-
Percy has started showing interest in food and was started on a diet!
He is able to swim in deep water the majority of the day outside of his kiddie pool!
- 2.19.21
-
Percy is able to be in deep water all day and overnight!
He has started on oral antibiotics.
- 3.2.21
-
Percy went for a routine CT scan and no obvious internal tumors were seen!
- 4.7.21
-
Percy was cleared to have surgery! Percy was placed under general anesthesia and all fibropapilloma tumors, including eye tumors, were successfully removed.
Over the next few weeks we will be monitoring the surgical sites for healing and regrowth. Percy will also be placed on eye drops to help the eyes heal properly.
- 4.28.21
-
Percy had a slower recovery post surgery but has responded well to treatments to help him improve. He is now eating all his diet!
We are continuing to monitor his surgical sites for healing and regrowth over the next few weeks.
- 5.31.21
-
Percy has been healing and recovering well.
Percy went for a routine recheck CT scan to check for signs of disease progression. No obvious abnormalities seen!
- 7.9.21
-
Regrowth and new tumor growth were observed on Percy’s recent exam.
Unfortunately due to the significant disease progression since surgery, Percy was humanely euthanized.
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.