Rescue and Rehabilitation with the Loggerhead Marinelife Center

We are excited to share Christine Ruffin’s experience below, funded by Charlie’s Angels fund.

My month-long externship with the Loggerhead Marinelife Center was the perfect opportunity to learn the ins and outs of rescue and rehabilitation of sea turtle medicine. Throughout my time in Florida, I was able to practice venipuncture, which is very different compared to small animal venipuncture, performed many diagnostic necropsies and learned about sea turtle anatomy & physiology. I also was able to monitor anesthesia for sea turtles undergoing endoscopies of hook removals, fibropapilloma tumor removals, and advanced CT imaging. I was lucky enough to be able to go to a local human hospital to use their CT machine with some of the sea turtle patients. It was fascinating getting to collaborate with the human radiologist about the CT findings and how to best proceed with treatment. Talk about one health! I was even able to release one of my first patients while at Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Wasabi, a juvenile green sea turtle presented to Loggerhead with a fishing hook in its right front flipper. After cleaning and debriding the wound and a course of antibiotics in hospital, I was able to release Wasabi at the local beach a week later. This was one of the most rewarding experiences I had at Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Although I am committed to pursuing a career in small animal surgery, I hope to continue to work with wildlife and exotic animals in the future and volunteer my time whenever possible.