Eight big cats at In-Sync Exotics went under anesthesia over two days in June for root canals and oral surgery, performed by a volunteer team of veterinary dental specialists who do this work for free.
The patients were tigers Salem, Leah, Gus, Shilo and Kenobi; a cougar named Sage; a lion named Madiba; and a bobcat named Mary.
The sanctuary’s population keeps growing: it took in 22 animals over ten weeks this spring, including five cats from a Nevada sanctuary that closed.
Why exotic cats need dentists
Dental disease is one of the most common health problems in captive exotic felines, and one of the least visible. A broken canine, an abscess, chronic oral pain: none of it announces itself in an animal that has every evolutionary reason to hide weakness.
The sanctuary says many of the cats living at its Wylie, Texas site came from places where they were given improper care, and an animal’s mouth carries that history in a way that outlasts the rescue.
“Providing dental care for a tiger, lion, or other exotic cat is far more complex than a routine veterinary visit,” said Vicky Keahey, In-Sync Exotics’ founder and president. “The expertise and generosity of the Dental Coalition for Conservation allows us to address serious dental issues that could otherwise cause chronic pain and impact an animal’s overall health.”
What a dental weekend looks like
The Dental Coalition for Conservation brings veterinary dental specialists, human dentists, veterinarians, technicians and support staff, all volunteering their time. In-Sync’s own veterinarian, Stephanie LaGrone, DVM, worked alongside them with sanctuary staff and volunteers.
Putting a tiger under general anesthesia carries real risk, so nothing gets wasted while the animal is down. Alongside the comprehensive oral examinations, root canals and preventive work, In-Sync’s veterinary team ran additional health assessments and routine wellness procedures on each cat in the same session.
The coalition also trains staff on dental disease specific to exotic animals, which is the part that outlasts the visit.
“Dental health is often an overlooked aspect of animal welfare, but it is critical to an animal’s comfort and well-being,” LaGrone said.
Quick answers
- What happened at In-Sync Exotics?
Eight big cats went under anesthesia over two days in June for root canals and oral surgery, performed by a volunteer team of veterinary dental specialists who do the work for free. The patients were tigers Salem, Leah, Gus, Shilo and Kenobi, a cougar named Sage, a lion named Madiba and a bobcat named Mary.
- Why do exotic cats need dental specialists?
Dental disease is one of the most common health problems in captive exotic felines and one of the least visible. A broken canine, an abscess or chronic oral pain does not announce itself in an animal that has every evolutionary reason to hide weakness.
- Where do the sanctuary's cats come from?
In-Sync Exotics, in Wylie, Texas, says many of its cats came from places where they were given improper care. The sanctuary took in 22 animals over ten weeks this spring, including five cats from a Nevada sanctuary that closed.
