“Ticuna,” a four-and-a-half-year-old giant otter, is doing swimmingly well following a precedent-setting double root canal that was performed on her recently at Zoo Miami’s Christopher Weeks Animal Hospital.
The highly endangered 50-pound otter had broken both of her upper canines, exposing the pulp and creating what was certainly severe pain. This is something that these animals will sometimes do in the wild while chewing on mollusks, bony fish, and other hard substances. Unfortunately, in the wild, such injuries often prevent the animal from being able to eat properly and can lead to death.
Due to careful observations by the animal science staff, Ticuna’s injury was able to be attended to by a full veterinary dental team, led by Dr. Jan Bellows of All Pets Dental along with Dr. Elizabeth McMorran and veterinary dental assistant Joana Macias. The team was assisted by Zoo Miami’s veterinary team led by Dr. Gaby Flacke.
In what is believed to be a first time ever double root canal on a giant river otter, Dr. Bellows and Dr. McMorran each worked on a separate canine simultaneously to reduce the amount of time the animal would have to be under anesthesia. Both root canals were performed successfully without incident and Ticuna now appears to be fully recovered back at her habitat in Zoo Miami’s Amazon and Beyond exhibit.
Giant otters are the longest of the world’s 13 otter species with males reaching a length of six feet. They are extremely endangered and are naturally found in isolated and remote areas within some fresh water lakes, creeks, rivers, and reservoirs of Tropical South America. Zoo Miami has one of the country’s most successful captive breeding programs with several litters having been born here.
