Dental Expert Tend To Boris The 66 Stone Polar Bear
A group of dental experts gathered to treat a 66 stone polar bear at the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, Washington.
Boris, who was rescued from a circus in Mexico ten years ago, is one of the zoo’s most popular residents. The polar bear needed dental treatment for an infected tooth and vets took the opportunity to give him a health check at the same time. Boris was anaesthetised and his huge frame stretched over a giant table, while dental experts performed root canal treatment and checked his molar teeth. Vets also trimmed his claws and removed a growth from his eyelid.
At 27 years old and having had a difficult start to life working in the circus, Boris has nonetheless gone from strength to strength since being rescued. The animal is popular with his keepers and they all dote on him as if he were part of the family. Keeper Cindy Roberts said everyone worries when he needs treatment, but that it was important that he had dental treatment for the infected tooth and apart from a touch of arthritis vets gave him a clear bill of health.
Cindy said the keepers become close to the animals and often spend more time caring for them than they do with their own families.
Boris was anaesthetised for four hours, but he came round as expected and is recovering well.
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