A shell-shocking coincidence

It’s quite rare for two wild turtles to find themselves at Michigan State University’s Veterinary Medical Center on the same day. Although they needed care for very different reasons, their shared experience just might make them shellmates for life.

On Aug. 5, both a snapping turtle and a painted turtle arrived at the hospital in need of medical attention.

Snapping the wrong snack

The snapping turtle got itself into trouble when it accidentally swallowed a fishhook, mistaking the shiny lure for a snack.

The turtle was brought to the Hospital, where Valerie Johnson of the Emergency and Critical Care Service saw him. An x-ray revealed that the hook was lodged in the turtle’s distal esophagus. The Internal Medicine Service was then called in to perform an endoscopy to safely remove it.

“The turtle was anesthetized, and an endoscope was passed down the esophagus,” says Johnson. “The endoscope has a camera, so you can see the object you want to remove, and it also has a port where you can pass instruments through to grab it. In this case, the hook was still attached to the bait, which made it much safer to remove.”

If the hook had punctured the esophagus or stomach, surgery would have been required. “Fortunately, the hook was completely embedded in the bait and had not punctured anything. We were able to pull it out without damaging any internal organs,” says Johnson.

The turtle stayed overnight at the Hospital to recover from anesthesia and was picked up the next day by Wildside Rehabilitation. Within a week, the snapping turtle was released back into the wild, healthy and thriving.

A turtle work of art

The painted turtle’s injury was much different — and more visible. This little patient had suffered a fractured shell that required careful repair.

To stabilize the shell, the veterinary team used bone cement, orthopedic screws, and metal wire. “The screws were embedded in the bone cement on either side of the fracture and then wired together after the cement hardened to close the gap,” says Johnson.

Despite the severity of the injury, the turtle’s prognosis is positive. “Now that the shell is held in place, there should be minimal to no pain while walking or swimming, and the turtle should have full mobility,” Johnson explains.

Because shell fractures carry a risk of infection, the painted turtle is continuing its recovery with Wildside Rehabilitation. He will remain there for antibiotics and monitoring until his shell heals completely. If all goes well, he should be able to return to the wild with no lasting limitations.

The challenges of treating turtles

Caring for turtles presents unique challenges compared to other animals. “Turtles have a slow metabolism, which means they can take longer to wake up from anesthetic drugs,” says Johnson. “They also hold their breath for long periods, especially under sedation, so anesthetists need to give them breaths during procedures. And because many drugs have not been tested in turtles, it can be difficult to predict how they’ll respond.”

This combination of factors makes turtle medicine highly specialized, requiring both advanced equipment and careful teamwork between veterinarians, anesthetists, and rehabilitators.

The road to recovery

Following emergency treatment at the Hospital, both turtles transitioned into the expert care of nearby Wildside Rehabilitation. “Wild animals need to be cared for by a licensed wildlife rehabilitator following treatment,” says Johnson. “Wildside Rehabilitation was critical in the treatment and eventual release of these turtles. They know how to medicate and feed the animals, and how and when to release them.”

The snapping turtle has already returned to his natural habitat, showing no signs of long-term effects. The painted turtle still has some healing to do, but with continued care and monitoring, his future — and his shell — look bright.

This story originally appeared on the College of Veterinary Medicine website.