FEATURE STORY
ZooTracks
A Sedgwick County Zoological Society magazine for members Publisher Sedgwick County Zoological Society, Inc. © 2014 All rights reserved. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Mark C. Reed Sedgwick County Zoological Society, Inc. PRESIDENT Scott Ochs TRUSTEES Stanley G. Andeel Kevin J. Arnel Jeff Bloomer Ron Brunton William P. Buchanan Martha C. Buford Cindy Burgess Kelly E. Callen Mark C. DeVries Allan Dunne Genevieve Farha Rhonda Fullerton Michael Herbert Ronald Holt Dale Hoyer Dirk Jones Sarah Kauffman Don J. Knappenberger Gary Kohn Marvin Long Buz Lukens Gayle Malone Sam Marnick Martin W. Park Sue Pearce Mary Lynn Priest Scott Redler Albert R. Sanchez Barry Schwan Jay Smith David M. Unruh Marty Wells Sheryl Wohlford MAGAZINE COMMITTEE Schanee Anderson Melissa Graham Ryan Gulker Scott Newland Steven Onken Jonathan Rold ON THE COVER— Dr. Winter giving Kinali a dental exam
Say AHHH!
by: Dr. Sandy Wilson, Associate Veterinarian
If you have ever had a toothache, you know how painful this condition can be. Imagine if you could not tell anyone what was wrong? Dental disease is the most common medical condition observed in animals, wild and domestic alike. Wild animals are especially good at hiding their illness, making it difficult for veterinarians to diagnose this malady. A thorough dental examination is not much different than a person going to the dentist, which includes probing, charting, and taking dental radiographs of each tooth. This comprehensive exam has now become a very important part of the preventive health care program for animals at the Sedgwick County Zoo. Dr. Bill Bryant, Senior Veterinarian, sums it up this way. “Dental disease can come about due to genetics, nutrition, trauma, health issues or advanced age. It is important to monitor all of the vastly different types of species' tooth structures through all stages of life.” In addition to performing routine “well animal” exams, zoo veterinarians must be vigilant in watching for different types of oral disease, including broken teeth, jaw fractures, abscesses and even cancer. Our zookeepers are the first line of defense
against these problems. Some animals, including many of the apes, have been trained to open their mouths on cue, allowing inspection of the teeth. The careful daily observations of the animals in their care can reveal subtle changes that may be a sign of oral disease. Perhaps it’s a zookeeper in the Children’s Farm noticing the draft horse dropping hay from her mouth when eating, or one of the Australia/ South America zookeepers observing the caracal chewing his food using only one side of his mouth. The zoo veterinarians rely on the keen observation skills of the keeper staff to identify these problems early on, so an examination and treatment can be arranged. If left untreated, dental disease can lead to chronic pain and inflammation. In some cases, infection can spread through the blood stream, causing damage to the heart, kidneys and other organs. Without regular dental care, tooth loss and abnormal wear can result in difficulty chewing food, subsequent weight loss, and a generally compromised state of health.