It was a surprisingly quiet early May morning in a Midwest emergency department. I was partway through a coffee and enjoying the pace of the morning when the dreaded squad phone rang. We all got a quick chuckle as the nurse noted a local squad bringing in a 16-year-old male with a turtle bite; most of us thought a small pet turtle had snapped at him. Two minutes later, the squad called back and asked that med command approve Morphine for the patient. As it turned out, what was missed with the first call was that it was about a 25-30 pound snapping turtle, and the turtle was still on the patient’s face. The emergency department staff then became very busy as everyone tried to prepare for what we might see roll through the ambulance bay doors.
The staff and I had gathered several potentially useful instruments in preparation for the patient’s arrival including umbrella handles, tool box with pliers, a large cardboard box, orthopedic room cast spreaders and other potentially useful devices.
The doors opened and in rolled a-16-year old male holding a large local snapping turtle against his chest as the turtle clenched down with its jaws on the right side of the patient’s face. The turtle’s front claws were against, but not yet scratching, the patient’s anterior neck. Fortunate for the patient and the staff, the patient was surprisingly cooperative and unshaken by his situation. Staring at this scene amidst a slew of nurses and staff, the question was posed to me, “What do we do now?”
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Paralyze
written by Jeff W , February 05, 2011
written by Jeff W , February 05, 2011
I would try to get as much as I could between the turtle and the patient to protect from further injury. At that point, with an adequate amount of padding, I'd consider injecting a massive dose of an IM paralytic into the turtle.
Cast Spreaders to the rescue
written by William Sullivan, DO , February 06, 2011
written by William Sullivan, DO , February 06, 2011
Neat case.
This would require some MacGuyvering, but I think that the corner of some cast spreaders would fit between the turtle's jaws. Either that or slip one end of a Kelly clamp between the jaws and bend backward.
Perhaps using a syringe to squirt something nasty tasting into the turtle's mouth?
This would require some MacGuyvering, but I think that the corner of some cast spreaders would fit between the turtle's jaws. Either that or slip one end of a Kelly clamp between the jaws and bend backward.
Perhaps using a syringe to squirt something nasty tasting into the turtle's mouth?
Bolt cutters
written by SarahG , February 07, 2011
written by SarahG , February 07, 2011
Bolt cutters should remove the turtle's head from the rest of its body. Maybe Dr. G's loppers would work.
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written by TAM , February 08, 2011
written by TAM , February 08, 2011
Put something between the claws and the patient, and squirt alcohol in its mouth to make it let go. Oh yes, and make sure someone has a good grip on the thing! By the way, they have long necks.
I was going to say "cut its head off", but I suppose that could cause a lot of scratching.
As far as the patient, I have no idea, I was just looking at the veterinary aspect of it.
I was going to say "cut its head off", but I suppose that could cause a lot of scratching.
As far as the patient, I have no idea, I was just looking at the veterinary aspect of it.
Decapitation
written by Danimal , February 08, 2011
written by Danimal , February 08, 2011
I remember reading about decapitation as the best method of euthanization for iguanas -- I'm pretty sure that it'd work for snapping turtles as well. Then as the first poster suggested -- irrigate, tetanus and cover for zoonotic bugs, and finish with a nice snapping turtle stew.
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written by T. Hunt , February 08, 2011
written by T. Hunt , February 08, 2011
Try to convince the turtle that he's just not that into her?
Reptile.. cool it down.
written by Kimm , February 08, 2011
written by Kimm , February 08, 2011
I would apply ice packs to the turtle... cool it down, then it should relax and let go. No need to harm it.
Snapping Turtle forum
written by RSDS , February 09, 2011
written by RSDS , February 09, 2011
My first thought was to cover the turtle's nostrils, but then I remembered that they can stay submerged under water for very long periods of time.
People on this pet snapping turtle forum might have some ideas of how to get the turtle to release the patients face.
http://forums.kingsnake.com/forum.php?catid=34
People on this pet snapping turtle forum might have some ideas of how to get the turtle to release the patients face.
http://forums.kingsnake.com/forum.php?catid=34
Snapping Turtles
written by Iatros , February 09, 2011
written by Iatros , February 09, 2011
Well known in southern lore is the fact that snapping turtles don't let go till it thunders!
Having caught several of these fishing, I agree with the tenacity and toughness of these critters, who can survive just about anything. Decapitation would be the fastest way to relief the patient, but requires large instruments. Cutting its throat and allowing it to exsanguinate into a basin would work, eventually. Those who think they can open those jaws with a Kelly should think again!
Having caught several of these fishing, I agree with the tenacity and toughness of these critters, who can survive just about anything. Decapitation would be the fastest way to relief the patient, but requires large instruments. Cutting its throat and allowing it to exsanguinate into a basin would work, eventually. Those who think they can open those jaws with a Kelly should think again!
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written by ER Murse , February 10, 2011
written by ER Murse , February 10, 2011
This link says ketamine and medetomidine work on turtles. It looks like medetomidine is just a vet medicine product, but I bet you could get some ketamine into the turtle.
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written by Arzt4Empfaenger , February 14, 2011
written by Arzt4Empfaenger , February 14, 2011
As far as I know the usual “secret” is to stay calm and offer the turtle an escape into water (i.e. partially submerging it in the filled bathtub), since aggressive behavior will usually just lead to stronger clamping. And boy, are they strong. Of course, if it doesn’t let go, I'd pry open the jaw with something other than a finger (small stick, toothbrush handle etc.), if possible. Vets do that to administer medications when the turtle can’t just eat a med-spiked fish or such. Vets probably have a whole better "juice" to sedate it, though it's handy to know alternatives when you're far from any hospital or vet hospital.
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written by Arzt4Empfaenger , February 14, 2011
written by Arzt4Empfaenger , February 14, 2011
Btw., the prying might only work on red-cheeked water turtles and smaller specimens, not the snapping turtle, which is a whole lot stronger (thus the name). I would never get close to one of those, they're so fast, too! I missed that part for some reason. (My own experiences were with a red-cheeked one and my sister ;->).
Scare it?
written by Patrick , February 14, 2011
written by Patrick , February 14, 2011
so it goes AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, and when it opens it's mouth to scream, extricate the patient from the jaws of terrapin terror. A picture of Michael Moore should do the trick.
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written by pete hoy , February 15, 2011
written by pete hoy , February 15, 2011
do a shellectomy without propofol or squirt some of the broth from the hospitals brussel sprouts in his throat
They dont teach turtle physiology in medical school
written by Blacksails , February 16, 2011
written by Blacksails , February 16, 2011
But as cold blooded animals, they cant keep their metabolism running in the cold. Give the patient a blanket and stick him in a walk in freezer.
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written by Dr N , February 17, 2011
written by Dr N , February 17, 2011
All you have ti do is block the turtle's nares and it will let go.
4 Options to Keep it Simple
written by Matt Kurlan , February 19, 2011
written by Matt Kurlan , February 19, 2011
1: put a rag saturated w/ ether (from the lab) by the turtle's nose to render it unconscious.
2: position the patient such that the turtle is upsidedown & can't breathe, so it lets go & tries to right itself.
3: call Batman for some turtle spray (from his utility belt)
4: tell the pt. his HMO denied the visit
2: position the patient such that the turtle is upsidedown & can't breathe, so it lets go & tries to right itself.
3: call Batman for some turtle spray (from his utility belt)
4: tell the pt. his HMO denied the visit
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written by Tammy , February 24, 2011
written by Tammy , February 24, 2011
Haven't you ever seen a dead turtle? Just as chickens literally run around with their heads cut off, turtles open and shut the mouth for quite a while after the head is detached from the rest of the body. So -- decapitate the darned thing and wait for the weird reflexes to set in and it should come loose on its own.
After you decapitate the beast
written by Tammy , February 24, 2011
written by Tammy , February 24, 2011
By the way, snappers, like so many other weird things, really DO taste "just like chicken." So, I like the idea of making a stew after everything's done. Perhaps, like chicken noodle soup, turtle stew (which tastes just like chicken) will make a person get well quicker, too!
DO
written by iris ford , February 25, 2011
written by iris ford , February 25, 2011
I have been told pressure on the eyes will cause a reflex mouth opening in croc/alligator types. That would be the first thing I would try with the turtle(maybe using the stick end of a big gyne swab to keep my fingers away!).
Emergency Physician
written by Justin , March 01, 2011
written by Justin , March 01, 2011
I would definitely plan to euthanize the turtle. Once the turtle comes off (if still alive) he poses a risk to all other staff. In my personal experience, snapping turtles are unpredictably nasty animals, the pitbulls of the pond, so to speak. I would not plan on going to battle with a snapping turtle that is not paralyzed or euthanized, particularly a 25 pound one. The jaws of a small snapping turtle can easily amputate a human finger.
I would find a vein or do an IM injection of paralytic. Decapitating the turtle may cause more cosmetic trauma to the patient's face during the process, AND decapitation does not necessarily mean that the jaws will release post-mortem. You may just be left with clamped jaws and no way to introduce a paralytic.
I would find a vein or do an IM injection of paralytic. Decapitating the turtle may cause more cosmetic trauma to the patient's face during the process, AND decapitation does not necessarily mean that the jaws will release post-mortem. You may just be left with clamped jaws and no way to introduce a paralytic.
Other anesthetic choices.
written by KateA , March 15, 2011
written by KateA , March 15, 2011
Vets no longer use medetomidine, but we use dexmedetimidine, which is approved for use in post op ICU patients, so most hospitals should have this. Using this, along with ketamine (is that still commonly used in peds?), sedation is pretty quick. Here is a reference for its use in humans:
>>>In 1999, dexmedetomidine, a novel selective and specific alpha2-agonist, was granted marketing authorisation in the USA for postoperative sedation of intensive care patients (2, 3).
>>>In 1999, dexmedetomidine, a novel selective and specific alpha2-agonist, was granted marketing authorisation in the USA for postoperative sedation of intensive care patients (2, 3).
When Turtles Attack
written by Nancy Anderson RN ED , February 28, 2012
written by Nancy Anderson RN ED , February 28, 2012
Having raised turtles for over 30 years, I have only had ONE snapper, and it was a hatchling. It went back to its bog a year later when it figured out what it was and I didn't want my other turtles eaten! I fouond it interesting in the actual article that the patient's eyes were "blacked out" by a black bar, but so were the turtle's!! Turtle HIPPA? Anyway, from my experience with Herp Vets, herpetologists and
the like, I think the paralytic/sedative was a good move. I might have phoned a vet to see what they would have suggested that would be on hand in the hospital. Did the turtle survive or die?
the like, I think the paralytic/sedative was a good move. I might have phoned a vet to see what they would have suggested that would be on hand in the hospital. Did the turtle survive or die?
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IF you don't want to kill the turtle I would recommend calling a 24hr veternarian hospital to ask how to best sedate the beast and go forward with their recommendations!
I sincerely doubt that you are going to get the reptile to relinquish its grip without sedation! I thought about local lidocaine to make the area "taste bad" but I DOUBT that that would work.
So...1) Kill it and unpry the jaws or 2)Call a 24hr Vet and ask for recommendations on how to sedate the animal!!!