Fabi, who weighs more than 100kg, was under anaesthetic for the two-and-a-half hour procedure.
A tiger at a zoo in Devon has undergone a lengthy root canal procedure – performed by a brave veterinary dentist.
Fabi, who is 11 years old and lives at Paignton Zoo, weighs more than 100kg (220lbs) and has 30 teeth including four very long canines.
He required a complete root canal after fracturing his lower canine teeth – measuring 8cm (3.15in) from crown to root – and beginning to develop abscesses.
Jo Reynard, a vet at the zoo, said: “Life in the Paignton Zoo veterinary department is always interesting, but a bilateral tiger root canal treatment is a challenging procedure.
“The fact it went so incredibly smoothly reflects the great team spirit among vets, keepers, curatorial staff and outside experts.”
Vets and keepers created a makeshift operating theatre in the largest tiger den the day before the procedure, making a table out of hay bales and tarpaulin.
Matthew Oxford, a veterinary dentist, brought specialist surgical kit and hand-held radiographic apparatus to carry out the two-and-a-half hour procedure on December 18.
He was accompanied by three vets, three vet nurses, two big cat keepers and senior animal staff – including one armed with a shotgun as part of safety protocols.
Jo Reynard administered anaesthetic to Fabi through the steel mesh of the den wall, with the calm tiger lying down for the injection.
He then received similar care to human patients including a breathing tube to deliver anaesthetic gases, and carefully-administered fluids and pain relief.
Fabi was kept warm throughout the procedure by an electric blanket and a duvet, with his paws wrapped in bubble wrap to ensure his extremities did not become cold.
Mr Oxford took x-rays and found Fabi’s lower canine teeth were fractured, the pulp had died and tooth root abscesses had started to develop.
His canines measured 8cm from crown to root. Human teeth are usually between 2-2.5cm (0.7-1n), with the largest domestic dog teeth about 4-4.5cm (1.5-1.7in) long.
The root canal procedure removed the bacteria and pulp from the chamber in the centre of the tooth and filled it with inert material.
After the procedure was completed, Fabi was carried to his pen where he was sitting up within about 15 minutes.
He received one-on-one observation during his recovery and seemed back to normal by the following day.
Nic Dunn, curator of mammals at the zoo, said: “Fabi is getting on now and it is not uncommon to see signs of wear and tear in an older cat.
“For tigers, the teeth and claws are very important pieces of equipment and so we need to make sure they are well looked after.
“While Matthew was performing the dental work it also gave us the chance to give Fabi a full health check and we were pleased to see that he was in great health.”
LONDON (AP) — Most residents living near a scenic fishing village in southwestern England where a parasite in the water sickened more than 45 people were told Saturday that they could safely drink the water again.
South West Water said it lifted its boil notice for most of the 17,000 homes and businesses around the Brixham area of Devon that had been affected after cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite that causes diarrhea, was found in the water.
At least 46 cases of cryptosporidiosis were confirmed and more than 100 other people reported similar symptoms, the U.K. Health Security Agency said. Symptoms can last more than two weeks.
The water company said it consulted with public health officials before lifting the boil warning for all but about 2,500 customers after rigorous testing showed the water was safe for most of the area.
“This situation has caused an immense amount of disruption, distress and anxiety. We are truly sorry this has happened," water company spokesperson Laura Flowerdew said. “The public rightly expect a safe, clean and reliable source of drinking water and on this occasion we have fallen significantly short of expectations."
The outbreak announced Wednesday was unrelated to Britain’s larger ongoing water woes but emblematic of an aging system in distress.
Water companies have been under fire for more than a year to stop frequent sewage overflows into rivers and oceans that have literally caused a stink, sickened swimmers, polluted fishing streams and led to an outcry from the public to clean up their act.
South West Water is facing charges in Plymouth Magistrates’ Court alleging 30 offenses for illegal water discharges or breaches of environmental permits between 2015 and 2021, the Environment Agency said.
Flowerdew on Friday said the outbreak may have come from a damaged air valve in a pipe that runs through a field where cows graze that is close to a reservoir.
A primary school was forced to close Thursday because it didn't have clean drinking water. The water company said it provided 386,000 water bottles to its customers.
People collect bottled water at Broadsands Car Park in Paignton, England, Friday May 17, 2024. Most residents living near a scenic fishing village in southwestern England where a parasite in the water sickened more than 45 people were told Saturday, May 18, 2024, that they could safely drink the water again. South West Water said it lifted its boil notice for most of the 17,000 homes and businesses around the Brixham area of Devon that had been affected after cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite that causes diarrhea, was found in the water. (Ben Birchall/PA via AP)
A general view of Brixham Harbour, in Brixham, Devon, Friday May 17, 2024. Most residents living near a scenic fishing village in southwestern England where a parasite in the water sickened more than 45 people were told Saturday, May 18, 2024, that they could safely drink the water again. South West Water said it lifted its boil notice for most of the 17,000 homes and businesses around the Brixham area of Devon that had been affected after cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite that causes diarrhea, was found in the water. (Piers Mucklejohn/PA via AP)
