How do you clean a 144-pound jaguar’s teeth?
As the zoo keepers at Zoo Miami can tell you, very carefully.
Dr. Jamie A. Berning, one of the nation’s most respected veterinary dentists, gave the nine-year-old male jaguar named Adonia a complete check-up. After a thorough cleaning and several x-rays, she determined that Adonia’s mouth is in excellent condition.
Exams like these are part of the zoo’s preventative medicine program. “Dental health plays a key role in the overall health of an animal,” says Ron Magill, the zoo’s Communication Director. “It allows us to diagnose any issues before they become serious.”
Since animals instinctively hide health problems to avoid attracting predators, preventative exams are often the only method of early detection.
Interestingly, many of us humans tend to hide our health challenges. Maybe we don’t want to worry our loved ones, or hope the issue resolves itself. Meanwhile, regular dental exams can help prevent not only oral issues but problems linked to heart disease, Alzheimer’s and more.
Since Medicare doesn’t cover oral care, a dental plan from your association and AMBA can mean significant savings on everything from routine exams to costly procedures and encourage regular visits to your dentist.
Because whatever your species, prevention is, indeed, the best cure.
Source: https://miami.cbslocal.com/2019/07/30/jaguar-medical-dental-exam-zoo-miami/
