Scanning a 100-Year Old Tortoise

Gigi the Aldabra tortoise has been dealing with some stiffness in her front limbs. Her movement has improved with medication, but we wanted to know the extent of her arthritis, so we can make the best medical decisions going forward. We also wanted to know if she’s still follicularly active (making eggs).
So, Gigi got a CT scan at our vet hospital. Our team got some amazing images that showed she does have some arthritis in her shoulders and elbows, but doesn’t appear to be severe at this time. She also has evidence of follicle development, so she still is actively making eggs - pretty remarkable for being nearly 100 years old!
#VetTales Friday

[@zacharybriddell98]

The turtle is so lucky to live about 100 years old!

[@jennycraigadventures3314]

As a volunteer, I used to help care for Gigi and the rest of the Aldabras at OZ. Gigi is a sweetheart and it was fun to see those MRI images.

[@zacharybriddell98]

How much does this turtle even weigh?

[@OaklandZooCA]

The females weigh upwards to 350 pounds while the males can surpass 500