The tiger who came to get his teeth fixed: Vets perform root canal work on 170kg huge cat after he broke a tooth

A team of vets performed root canal work on a huge 170kg Siberian tiger after it broke a tooth.

Marwell Zoo’s in-house veterinary team was called after a zookeeper saw that 11-year-old Bagai had chipped one of his 3.5-inch canines.

Bagai’s age and known health conditions meant his surgery and anesthesia were “high risk” with the imperative that “everything went according to plan”, Winchester Zoo in Hampshire said.

But vet Rachel Perry was able to carry out the difficult procedure with great success by performing a root canal, removing the pulp, sterilizing the inside of the tooth and filling it with a sealant.

Ms. Perry was accompanied by a team of registered veterinary nurses who monitored Bagai’s anesthetic and vital statistics.

Bagai’s age and known health conditions meant his surgery and anesthesia were “high risk” and it was imperative “everything went according to plan”, Winchester Zoo in Hampshire said.

A team of registered veterinary nurses monitored Bagai’s anesthetic and vital statistics

Zoo vet Dr Elyse Summerfield-Smith oversaw the operation. He said: “When we run procedures like this, everyone involved has a responsibility for the lives of their colleagues as well as the life of the tiger.

“We’re all women and we all had an area of ​​responsibility, so being able to work together, communicate well and perform our role to the best of our ability was critical.”

The zoo spokeswoman added: “Bagai has since made a full recovery and is enjoying his food once again thanks to the care, professionalism and expertise of this fantastic all-female team.”

Carrie Arnold, animal team leader for the carnivores, was the one who alerted the team to Bagai’s plight when she noticed his tooth was broken.

He said: “Working with and learning from different talents and strengths is such a privilege.

“It’s great to coordinate and manage such high profile proceedings alongside amazing women in the industry.”

Bagai’s fangs were 3.5 inches long. Human teeth are usually between 0.7-1in, with the largest domestic dog teeth being about 1.5-1.7in long.

Victoria Sissons, animal keeper, said: “It was an amazing experience to be a part of and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to work alongside and learn from such an experienced and professional group of women.”

Siberian tigers, also known as Amurs, are the largest of the world’s big cats and are highly endangered due to hunting and deforestation.

There are believed to be between 265 and 486 in the wild in the Russian Far East, according to the Zoological Society of London.