Patient Update: September 26th

Seals:

Androscoggin “Andy”, Piscataqua “Cat”, Chicopee, and Pawcatuck “Tuck”

The Tank 2 crew are all doing very well with no significant changes to their health. They are all steadily gaining weight, Cat (bottom right) and Andy (top left) weighed in today at 29.1 kg and 30 kg respectively! Chicopee (top right) continues to be unbothered by the loss of her eye, and Tuck (bottom left) just received a preliminary exam to track his growth progress and determine his release eligibility by our veterinarians earlier this week! The recently declared Unusual Mortality Event (UME) has provided us a challenge in regards to releasing these animals. However, the test results for all four seals returned negative for both Phocine Distemper Virus and Avian Influenza, so they have been deemed eligible for release! As they are all healthy and eating well, we have begun to look into potential sites for a release while avoiding areas that are afflicted by the UME.

Sugar

After implementing multiple treatment plans to combat Sugar’s ocular disease, the animal care team at the National Marine Life Center determined that surgery was our best course of action in fighting these persistent ocular lesions. Sugar underwent a surgery to remove some of the dead tissue on her eye, and part of her lower eyelid was stretched and attached to the upper eyelid. We are optimistic that this will help to stimulate the healing process and allow for formation of healthy tissue! If you are interested in the details of the surgery, check in for further updates on Sugar as we monitor her progress!

Bear and Jones

The Pup Room Crew trio is now a duo, as after Sugar’s surgery she was moved to an isolation pod to prevent any damage to her eye. Bear (front right) and Jones (front left) have continued to gain weight and are eating well on their own without any recent changes to their health. As we await to see how Sugar’s eye responds to her surgery, we will consider the possibility of performing this operation on both Bear and Jones, as their ocular diseases have not responded well to treatment, although Jones’ opacities are improving.

Turtles:

Etta

Etta has still yet to receive surgery on the osteolytic lesion that had developed on her shoulder bone as a result of her cold-stunning. We will continue to work to schedule this, but in the mean time we have begun to increase her physical therapy! She is now slated to receive it on both Tuesday and Thursday in the hopes that this will increase her flipper mobility on her path to recovery.

Posted by Grant M.

Grant is a second semester intern who recently graduated from Roger Williams University with degrees in Biology and Chemistry.