But Pennywise presented a unique challenge. At her size, she was too large for the turtle hospital’s equipment. Even a human CT scan at the nearby Jupiter Medical Center proved impossible.
The veterinary team, led by Chief Science Officer Heather Barron, had to think fast.
When standard veterinary equipment proved too small, the team quickly arranged for Pennywise to undergo a CT scan at an equine clinic using horse-sized machinery at Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington.
The imaging revealed that Pennywise sustained bone damage around her spinal cord.
And what they discovered was a wonderful surprise — Pennywise carrying eggs.
This is particularly significant since loggerheads are endangered and typically produce multiple clutches during a single nesting season.
The hope now is to get her healthy and back into the wild so she can lay those precious eggs.