Trip To The Dentist For Garry The Wild Dog
Garry, an African wild dog and resident of Melbourne Zoo, has undergone dental treatment.
Garry, who is the same size as a German Shepherd with a face similar to that of a hyena, required root canal treatment on one of his front canine teeth; the tooth had started to decay and the procedure was carried out to prevent infection.
Garry was shot with a tranquiliser dart before the procedure to anaesthetise him; without the procedure, Garry’s tooth would have almost certainly become infected, which would have been very painful and prevented him from eating properly.
Dr Steve Coles, an animal dentist who has volunteered at the zoo for more than 20 years, said that in the wild, an infected tooth would almost certainly cause death.
Dr Coles also took the opportunity to urge pet owners to take good care of their pet’s teeth this August, as part of the national pet dental month campaign. Gum disease is very common in domestic animals as a result of their diet.
Dr Coles advised owners to give their dog a bone to chew on and dental sticks and to take their pet for a dental check-up at the vet’s every 6-12 months.
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