Pennywise the Sea Turtle Gets Horse-Sized CT Scan Adventure!

Quick Smiles:

• A loggerhead sea turtle named Pennywise needed a horse-sized CT scanner for a check-up.
• The scan revealed Pennywise was carrying a clutch of eggs.
• Boaters are reminded to slow down during nesting season to protect these magnificent creatures.

When a colossal loggerhead sea turtle was struck by a boat and brought to a Florida veterinary hospital, the medical team faced a unique challenge.

The CT scanner at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach was simply too small for Pennywise, the name given to this grand old female.

Faced with this dilemma, the team transported her to a local medical center, hoping their human-sized CT scanner would suffice.

To their surprise, this machine was also inadequate for Pennywise’s impressive size.

The team then pondered: which animals are larger than humans and have access to specialized veterinary equipment?

This led them to an equine clinic, where they approached a group of amused horse veterinarians with their unusual request.

“And, luckily, the horse-sized machine was big enough to fit this lady through,” Heather Barron, the chief science officer and veterinarian at Loggerhead, shared.

While the extent of Pennywise’s injuries remains undisclosed, the CT scan revealed an unexpected discovery—she was carrying eggs.

“We hope we’ll be able to get her back out there into the wild as soon as possible so that she can lay those eggs,” Barron expressed.

The use of CT scans for turtles injured by boat strikes is a recent advancement in veterinary medicine.

A veterinary college in London was instrumental in developing this technique, guided by a student intrigued by the diagnostic potential of CT scans.

In 2016, Jen Oraze, a marine biology graduate, spearheaded a study at the college to perform CT scans on turtles with suspected spinal injuries.

Every year, a Florida rescue center admits dozens of sea turtles after boat collisions in the Florida Keys.

Some turtles suffer chronic spinal injuries, losing their ability to dive without special weights.

Oraze was captivated by a consultant vet who was using a CT scanner on a Florida sea turtle named Ali.

This inspired her to lead a study examining turtles from various aquariums, including a 70-year-old specimen.

Her goal was to publish her findings to promote the use of CT scans for turtles in Florida and beyond.

This remarkable journey of Pennywise highlights the creativity and dedication of veterinarians in protecting these magnificent creatures.

Boaters are urged to slow down during nesting season to ensure the safety of these endangered turtles.

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