Siberian Tiger Gets Root Canal

Going to the dentist isn’t fun for anyone, and when the patient is a 300lb Siberian tiger, things get a little more complicated.

At the Alaska Zoo last week resident Siberian tiger Kunali had a root canal performed on one of his giant, three inch teeth. Kunali had fractured the tooth several years earlier and veterinarians decided to go ahead with the procedure to prevent the possibility of future infection. The operation on the seven foot cat was made easier due to the donation of a special new hydraulic operating table. Previously these procedures had to be performed in the animal’s exhibits with little space or light.

Kunali was sedated during the operation and is reportedly recovering just fine. According to the dentist, it was the largest tooth he had ever worked on.

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