June 30, 2006

By Debbie Richmond

Matchbox cars and skateboards are just what every boy needs, though usually the boy isn’t a painted turtle.

Hit by a car in September, a male painted turtle arrived at the Cape Wildlife Center with a fractured shell and was unable to move his right front leg due to a fractured clavicle. His shell was properly aligned and would heal with time, but his shoulder break was well up inside his shell and would have to align and mend on its own.

Pain medication and antibiotics were started immediately; after several days simple flexing exercises to maintain range-of-motion began. Eventually, the painted turtle could swing his leg in and out on his own, but he was unable to put any weight on it.

Enter the matchbox car wheels and chassis; add some Velcro, and away “Skateboard” went. He immediately started riding around the clinic. Weak and awkward at first, he tired easily. But daily practice allowed him to increase the weight on his injured leg. Half-hour boarding sessions helped him, and he was able to gradually increase his skateboard time.

Skateboard gained strength and mobility in his leg; he was able to place it properly on the floor. After several weeks, it was time to take away the “training wheels.”  Again, he was awkward at first, but in no time he was running around the clinic, often evading the staff at the end of the day when it was time to retire for the night.

Prior to his release, Skateboard could fully bear weight on all four legs, and his plastron had healed well.