396 Scientific Reports JAVMA, Vol 242, No. 3, February 1, 2013 AQUATIC ANIMALS V eterinary care in sea turtle rehabilitation facili- ties is an essential component of sea turtle con- servation around the world. Clinical and pathological studies are continuing to contribute to a better un- derstanding of problems in stranded sea turtles and provide a basis to guide conservation efforts. Five spe- cies of sea turtles have been reported around the Ca- nary Islands: loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green turtle (Chelonia mydas), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea). 1,2 However, loggerhead turtles are the most common species found around the Ca- nary Islands coming from the US western Atlantic by the Gulf Stream. 1,3 Metabolic and respiratory status of stranded juvenile loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta): 66 cases (2008–2009) María Camacho, DVM; María P. Quintana, DM, PhD; Octavio P. Luzardo, DVM, PhD; María D. Estévez, DVM; Pascual Calabuig, DVM, BS; Jorge Orós, DVM, PhD Objective—To document venous blood gas, acid-base, and plasma biochemical values for stranded juvenile loggerhead turtles at admission to a rehabilitation facility, compare these values among stranding causes, investigate differences in these values for turtles that sur- vived versus those that died, and establish the baseline values for successfully rehabilitated loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). Design—Retrospective case series. Animals—66 stranded juvenile loggerhead turtles that were hospitalized between 2008 and 2009. Procedures—Venous blood gas, acid-base, and plasma biochemical values at the time of admission were compared retrospectively among turtles with different stranding causes. Initial results were compared between turtles that survived and turtles that died. Results for survivors were compared between the time of admission and time of release. Results—57 (86.36%) turtles had various types of acid-base disorders at the time of admis- sion to the rehabilitation facility. Of these, 33 (57.9%) had mixed acid-base disorders and 24 (42.1%) had primary acid-base disorders. All acid-base disorders were classified as mild to moderate, except 1 case of severe metabolic and respiratory acidosis. Except for the de- bilitated turtles (in which the mean initial glucose concentration was much lower than that observed for the rest of turtles), there was no difference in initial values when comparing stranding causes. Turtles that died during rehabilitation had significantly higher initial anion gap and osmolality, compared with turtles that survived. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Acid-base disorders were present in most stranded juvenile loggerhead turtles. Evaluation of accurately obtained, temperature-corrected ve- nous blood gas, acid-base, and plasma biochemical values can provide important clinical and prognostic information and a valuable basis for the implementation of adequate and rapid treatment for stranded loggerhead turtles admitted to rehabilitation facilities. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2013;242:396–401) Diseases and causes of death among sea turtles stranded in the Canary Islands have been described. 4,5 Variations of the different plasma biochemical and he- matologic parameters of loggerhead sea turtles according to the cause of stranding or disease have also been re- ported. 6 However, reports 7–9 on blood gas and acid-base status of loggerhead turtles, particularly stranded juve- nile animals, are limited. The goals of the study reported here were to document venous blood gas, acid-base, and plasma biochemical values for stranded juvenile logger- head turtles at the time of admission to our rehabilitation facility; compare these values among stranding causes; investigate differences in these values between turtles that survived and those that died; and establish baseline values for rehabilitated juvenile loggerhead turtles. Materials and Methods Sea turtle rehabilitation at the Tafira Wildlife Reha- bilitation Center was conducted with authorization of From the Veterinary Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmontana s/n, 35416 Arucas (Las Palmas), Spain (Camacho, Luzardo, Orós); the Department of Mathematics, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus de Tafira, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain (Quintana); and Tafira Wildlife Rehabilitation Cen- ter, Cabildo de Gran Canaria,Tafira Baja, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain (Estévez, Calabuig). Supported by the Loro Parque Foundation, Tenerife, Spain. Address correspondence to Dr. Orós (joros@dmor.ulpgc.es). ABBREVIATION SCL Straight carapace length