Page 4 - ACT Paws and Hooves - Spring 2025
P. 4
PATIENT
STORY
RVC makes waves
for sea turtles’ health
Last winter, the RVC Small Animal Referrals Hospital Upon arrival, RVC clinicians worked with Sea Life staff
welcomed two extraordinary guests – rescued green to anaesthetise the turtles before performing the CT scans.
sea turtles, Josie and Sharky, from Sea Life Weymouth. The scans revealed no health concerns for Josie and
These turtles have been under human care since Sharky, to the relief of their dedicated care teams. After
suffering life-altering injuries in boat collisions off the the procedure, the turtles returned to Sea Life Weymouth,
coast of Florida nearly 25 years ago. where they resumed their routine – including enjoying their
favourite treat, squid.
The accidents left both Josie and Sharky with permanent The CT scanner used for their check-up was funded by
damage to their shells and internal organs, resulting in a the ACT as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations
condition informally known as ‘bubble butt syndrome’. for the RVC Small Animal Referrals Hospital.
This occurs when air becomes trapped under the shell, We are deeply grateful to our supporters, who enable
making the turtles too buoyant to dive and survive in us to provide advanced care to a wide variety of
the wild. animals, such as Josie and Sharky.
To monitor their health, Josie and Sharky require regular
check-ups. CT scans are an essential tool in their care,
which allows veterinarians to assess critical factors, such Dr Joanna Hedley, Senior Lecturer
as bone health, organ placement, shell thickness and in Exotic Species at the RVC, highlighted:
the presence of non-viable eggs.
CT is invaluable as it
As one of Europe’s most advanced veterinary facilities, Facts about
the RVC Small Animal Referrals Hospital, with its allows us to view internal
cutting-edge CT funded by the RVC Animal Care Trust green sea turtles
(ACT), was the perfect destination for their check-up. The structures and skeletons
turtles’ journey from Weymouth was carefully planned to with far greater precision
prioritise their comfort and safety. They were transported
in custom-made wooden crates in a heated van, which than traditional X-rays.
maintained a tropical 24°C throughout the four-hour trip.
They nest along the coastline Sea turtles spend most of their
of more than 80 countries lives underwater, where they can rest
Sharky has a CT scan Sharky's CT scan results
around the world. for up to five hours at a time before
coming up to breathe.
Their name comes from the
layer of green fat that lies They migrate long distances
under their shell. between their feeding grounds
and their mating-nesting sites,
Scientists believe this unusually with recorded distances of
coloured fat is the result of their more than 2,600 kilometres –
diet of marine plants, such as that’s further than London to Athens.
seaweed and sea grass.
An adult will weigh 65-130kg and
measure between 1-1.2m long.
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