Senior veterinary officer Taina Strike shares how London Zoo cares for the oral health of its animals and the most common dental issues she encounters.
Please introduce yourself and your background
I’m Dr Taina Strike, senior veterinary officer at ZSL’s conservation zoos – London and Whipsnade – where I’ve been working for 25 years. I’m a European Board veterinary specialist in zoological medicine, and a diplomate in zoo health management: the highest specialisation we can reach in our field.
Can you give us an overview of the dental care program at London Zoo?
Dental care at London Zoo is a vital part of our broader healthcare programme, tailored to the incredible variety of dentition in our animals. From the enormous second incisors of elephants to the tiny tooth combs of lemurs, each species has unique dental needs.
Herbivores like rhinos have continuously growing teeth, while carnivores like lions rely on sharp canines and our Komodo dragons naturally have iron-reinforced ziphodont dentition!
The veterinary team works closely with expert animal dentists who have the specialised skills and equipment to handle complex cases, supported by my colleagues, including Dr Stefan Saverimuttu who leads much of our dentistry work at the zoo.
How do you assess an animal’s oral health, and how does this differ depending on the animal?
Assessing oral health in animals is challenging, as it varies greatly by species – you can’t ask them all to go ‘aaaah’! Thanks to our dedicated keepers, veterinary nurses and welfare staff, some animals, like lions and chimpanzees, are trained through positive reinforcement to open their mouths for inspection… though it does mean facing a lion’s very meaty breath!
For others, like herbivores, small oral apertures make it difficult to see their teeth, so general anesthesia is often required for a thorough exam. However, the approach remains the same: checking for abnormalities and ensuring the teeth are functioning correctly.
The challenge lies in the diversity of what’s ‘normal’. Many animals have unique species adaptations including the shedding and forward progression of molars, seen in species from wallabies to manatees and elephants.
Are there any animals that require more specialised care?
Yes, some species do require more specialised care, especially those that are either very large or very small. For example, the elongated incisors of elephants that we call tusks may require specialised equipment just to perform a basic dental check, due to their size.
On the other hand, small species like bush babies and lorises can also present challenges when performing more intricate procedures like endodontics. Each case is unique, and we often consult with specialists in both small and large animal dentistry to provide the best possible care.
What are some of the most common dental issues you encounter?
Age plays a big role – many animals live much longer in zoos than in the wild, leading to significant tooth wear which is common in rhinos. Early detection and intervention are paramount focuses for us. Adjusting diets, husbandry and monitoring helps us manage dental wear and prevent complications, ensuring animals stay as healthy as possible throughout their lives.
Being fed the correct diet in the zoo is also crucial; historically, the widespread practice of feeding primates high-sugar fruits led to dental issues. Now at London Zoo, we prioritise feeding vegetables, which reduces the incidence of calculus buildup and gingivitis.
In terms of preventative care, how do you maintain the oral health of the animals?
Diet selection and proactive surveillance are the most important factors. Our dedicated nutrition officer works to provide diets that mimic an animal’s natural diet, which ensures optimum general health as well as encouraging natural wear of the teeth.
Many dental problems in animals are caused by reduced tooth wear and subsequent overgrowth, but by providing diets closely aligned with each species’ biology, we can minimise the negative impacts diets can have on oral health.
In parallel to this, our zookeeping teams closely monitor food intake behaviours, such as changes in preferences and changes in chewing; this means they can promptly flag concerns to the veterinary team when unexpected issues arise.
What’s the most challenging dental case you have had to deal with?
Elephant dentistry is among the trickiest due to sheer size and logistics, but white rhinos pose major challenges too. Their massive heads weigh several hundred kilograms, and their anatomy adapted to their grazing lifestyle means their mouths open only slightly. To assess their oral health, they must first be anaesthetised – no small task.
Once safely sedated, we use hydraulic apparatus and solid wooden wedges to hold their mouths open just enough to insert an oroscope and large animal dental tools; often just visualising their teeth requires hydraulic flange spreaders.
We work closely with specialist veterinary dentists for these difficult cases, finding creative solutions to access and manipulate teeth safely. The combination of size, anatomy and necessary precision makes rhino dentistry one of the most challenging but rewarding aspects of our work.
What role does technology play? Are there any particular innovations or advancements you have incorporated into your oral care?
Technology plays a crucial role in maintaining top-tier dental care for our patients. One major advancement has been the use of portable intraoral dental radiography, which allows us to diagnose and treat dental issues in both small and large animals with greater precision.
Our recent investment in portable, full dental suites has also been a game-changer, enabling us to bring comprehensive dental care directly to the patient when needed.
Dental radiography is rapidly becoming the standard of care in veterinary medicine, and we use a high-end computed dental radiography system to enhance our diagnostic capabilities in small to medium-sized patients. For larger animals, we adapt our standard digital radiography system and use specialised large-animal equipment, such as specialised cameras with lights to see inside the mouth.
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