Giraffe Kelly’s check-up is a tall order for brave dentist
VETS at a Scots safari park were forced to perform high-level dental treatment – on a 15ft giraffe.
ANDREW MILLIGAN
Kelly needed the work after keepers at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling noticed that she was not digesting her food properly.
The 14-year-old giraffe was given general anaesthetic to allow a team of 12 vets and staff to check her teeth.
Kelly, who shares part of the park with four other female giraffes, was constantly monitored as experts used a ladder and bales of straw to prop up her neck.
Veterinary surgeon Ian Rodger found that food was being caught in a gap in her mouth and a decision was made to take X-rays.
Although the changes don’t look enormous to my eye – I’ve certainly seen worse changes than that in horses’ mouths many times – gum inflammation or gum recession is a noted source of pain in an animal’s mouth, so that may well be the primary source of th
Mr Rodger said: “Although the changes don’t look enormous to my eye – I’ve certainly seen worse changes than that in horses’ mouths many times – gum inflammation or gum recession is a noted source of pain in an animal’s mouth, so that may well be the primary source of the problem.
“We don’t undertake general anaesthesia in a giraffe lightly but this is a problem that’s been working away for a wee while now and we felt we had no choice but to explore the mouth and hopefully, based on that and based on the X-ray, we can make some decisions as to how to put a treatment programme in place.”
Ailsa West, team leader for giraffes at the safari park, said: “Me and the other giraffe keepers have all been a little bit nervous about this morning, especially when you see the drug starting to take effect, but it’s so good to see her back up on her feet so quickly.”