Meet Malamute, a sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle who made waves last fall after a news article highlighted a special surgery our Veterinary Team conducted on them to remove a fishing hook from their body. Guests were able to watch this surgery through the treatment room window at our Windows into Animal Care exhibit. Though the surgery was a success that day, it was only one part of a long and complicated case surrounding Malamute's health. With numerous medical ailments to tackle - including cold-stunning, an ingested fishing hook, pneumonia, and a severe muscle infection - our team's efforts to rehabilitate Malamute have been extensive.
Malamute was first admitted to the Darden Marine Animal Conservation Center (DMACC) after being found stranded from cold-stunning on November 24th in Cape Charles. Cold-stunning occurs when sea turtles are exposed to cold temperatures below 50°F. A sea turtle's body temperature is dependent on its environment, so many of their physiologic functions suffer when the water gets too cold. They become very weak and inactive, and the respiratory, digestive, and cardiovascular systems become severely compromised. Cold-stunned turtles are often very ill and in critical condition at time of stranding. Therefore, the Stranding Response team and the Aquarium veterinarians must prepare to assess and begin treatments immediately, often in the Stranding Response van before the animal even arrives at the DMACC.
This was the case for Malamute. Their heart rate was very low, and our team could not detect respirations when they arrived at the DMACC, so the veterinarians initiated emergency medical support. As a 60-kilogram (approximately 132-pound) sea turtle, there are a lot of logistics involved — from getting the turtle off the beach to collecting and analyzing blood samples and starting treatment, all while still in the van! Once at headquarters, Malamute remained in critical condition for four days before their vitals stabilized. Diagnostic tests indicated they had a systemic infection and pneumonia, which is common after cold-stunning, as the immune system is also compromised by the cold temperatures. However, a surprise was also found on Malamute’s radiographs: in addition to severe pneumonia and congestion in the lungs, a large fishing hook was visible. At some point in the past, Malamute had interacted with fishing gear and swallowed the hook, which was imbedded in the sea turtle’s esophagus.
