Tiger goes for check-up
IT was not quite a toothless tiger but it was not far off.
Louise, a 13-year-old Sumatran Bengal hybrid tiger that lives at Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve, yesterday received her dental check-up.
Luckily for vet Sam Young, Louise was none the wiser, having been hit with a dose of general anaesthetic before the check-up.
Pictures: Tiger teeth check-up
The tiger, which arrived in the Far North from Perth Zoo two years ago, was given a clean bill of health from Dr Young, who admitted to being a little scared.
"It was quite scary as she was going down to sleep and when she was waking up," she said.
"(But) I was happy with her dental health."
Dr Young said the check-up was a regular occurrence for many of the park’s residents.
"With all the animals here we try to do a regular health check every 12 to 24 months," she said.
"Tigers are considered dangerous obviously so we needed her to be fully unconscious."
Dr Young said tigers would often live to about 18 to 20 years, but could show signs of disease at about the same age as Louise.
"Now is when they start to get their teeth problems and they are also very prone to kidney disease, just like normal cats," she said.
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Open wide: Louise, a 13-year-old Sumatran Bengal hybrid tiger receives her dental check-up yesterday. Picture: JAKE NOWAKOWSKI
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