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It’s a bear necessity: WSU vets perform root canal on grizzly bear
New university findings highlight potential implications for dogs, animal health, and veterinary practice.
Adak, an 11-year-old grizzly bear residing at Washington State University's (WSU) Bear Research, Education and Conservation Center, underwent a root canal procedure at the university's Veterinary Teaching Hospital after damaging a canine tooth.
They say the dental procedure was arranged after staff discovered that the chipped tooth had exposed pulp.
WSU's veterinarians stepped in to perform the procedure, as dental issues represent the most common health concern for bears housed at the facility.
Chelsea Davis, who serves as the animal care facilities manager at the Bear Center, said staff noticed the injury during routine observation and determined the cause of the break.
"We suspect Adak broke off the tip of his tooth while wrestling with his sister," Davis said.
"We recognized that this was a serious issue and immediately contacted the campus veterinarian." Adak was already s…
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