Tiger toothache cured by brave dentist at Bristol zoo

Updated


Tiger toothache cured by brave dentist at Bristol zoo
Tiger toothache cured by brave dentist at Bristol zoo



Never mind a bear with a sore head - what do you do about a 32-stone tiger with a toothache?

Keepers at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm in Bristol had just that dilemma when they noticed big male tiger Khan becoming grumpy, and identified a chip in one of his canine teeth.

See also: Female zookeeper killed by tiger at NZ zoo

See also: Tiger sprays family with urine at zoo

With the strongest bite force of any of the big cats at 1050 PSI (pounds per square inch), tigers prefer to bite the throat of prey and hold until strangulation – relying heavily on their five-inch sharp canines.

At 200kg, Khan is a large cat and his experienced keepers didn't think drawing lots to rub clove oil onto his gums was the answer.

Instead they turned to Dr. Peter Kertesz, an experienced dental surgeon from London and a specialist in zoo dentistry who agreed to visit the park and treat Khan.

Tiger toothache cured by brave dentist at Bristol zoo
Tiger toothache cured by brave dentist at Bristol zoo



Based in Mayfair, Dr Kertesz runs ZOODENT International, offering over 30 years dental expertise and procedures to animal parks and zoos across the world treating species as diverse as elephants, gorillas, big cats and walruses.

After the veterinary team administered a carefully calculated dose of anaesthetic, waiting for it to take effect and securing Khan's jaws open, Dr Kertesz was soon able to identify a deep chip in his canine which had led to infection within the pulp cavity, and pain.

In his opinion, if left untreated, the infection could have been a risk to Khan's life.

Tiger toothache cured by brave dentist at Bristol zoo
Tiger toothache cured by brave dentist at Bristol zoo



Forty-five minutes of dental work later Dr Kertesz, with the help of dental nurse Monika, had removed the cracked tooth-tip, cleaned the internal canal to remove the infection, filled the long root canal and sealed the cavity. A careful inspection of the rest of Khan's teeth and gums showed he was otherwise in good dental health.

Dr Kertesz commented: "It was a pleasure to visit Noah's Ark Zoo Farm and treat Khan's tooth, with the support of the zoo team. It was an important procedure, as infections like this can lead to more serious health issues if left untreated. It was excellent observation on behalf of his keepers to spot the problem early."

Khan rested to recover from the anaesthetic and was soon back eating normally, visibly happier, with the toothache gone.



Related articles

Number of endangered Amul tigers on the rise for first time

Tiger claws woman to death in world first

Dentist Fixes Tiger's Teeth at Howletts Wild Animal Park
Dentist Fixes Tiger's Teeth at Howletts Wild Animal Park

Advertisement