wild ANIMAL SANCTUARY missions
PEIVDF visited the Wild Animal Sanctuary (WAS) in Keenesburg, CO on October 30, 2010 for their first mission to this amazing facility. WAS recently completed construction of a beautiful veterinary clinic and operating room - well-equipped, bright, and perfect for PEIVDF teaching missions. PEIVDF hopes this will be the beginning of a mutually beneficial relationship. The quality of care given to their animals makes WAS a perfect candidate for PEIVDF's veterinary dental services. The variety of animal breeds residing at the facility also provide a very varied, hands-on curriculum for our Tuition for Missions students.
Mission: July 28-29, 2012
On July 28 and 29, 2012 PEIVDF instructors and staff returned to WAS with two new Tuition for Missions students. On our first two-day teaching mission to WAS, PEIVDF staff worked on (5) five sanctuary residents - (4) four tigers, and one grizzly bear.
During this mission, Russell Farrelly of iM3 Veterinary was on had to instruct PEIVDF in the use of its new CR-7 Vet X-Ray developer, generously donated to PEIVDF by iM3. To read more about the iM3 donation, click HERE.
Check back soon for more information on the treatment PEIVDF provided on this mission to improve the health and well-being of the residents at this incredible facility.
Mission: April 20, 2012
On April 20, 2012, PEIVDF returned to WAS with a small team of PEIVDF staff to worked on (3) three sanctuary residents. Mountain Lion Liberty had two fractured teeth requiring root canal therapy. Elsa - a lioness - required treatment for a periodontal lesion, which entailed bone graft material, as well as treatment for an abscessed tooth. Finally, Raja - a white tiger - required root canal therapy on an upper and lower canine.
Mission: August 19, 2011
On August 19, 2011, a small team of PEIVDF staff returned to WAS to work on (3) three sanctuary residents. In addition, Pancho - one of (25) lions WAS rescued with Animal Defenders International (ADI) from deplorable conditions in Bolivia - had only a recheck exam, and has recovered beautifully from his complicated oronasal fistula repair.
Hercules, another of the Bolvian lions, had (3) three fractured molars, one of which required extraction. Goldberg, a tiger rescued from Ohio, required root canal therapy on all four canine teeth. Lakota, a black bear also rescued from Ohio, required root canal therapy for his fractured upper and lower left canines.
To see the recently-aired Denver Channel 7 segment filmed during this mission, click HERE to be taken to the video on their site.
Mission: March 21, 2011
On March 21, 2011, PEIVDF returned to WAS to work on (3) three more of the (25) lions WAS rescued with Animal Defenders International (ADI) from deplorable conditions in Bolivia. PEIVDF encountered some tough cases on this trip, due to the horrible abuse inflicted on many of the animals in Bolivia prior to their rescue by ADI and arrival at WAS.
Temuco and Campeon both required several root canal therapies between them. But poor Pancho! He required the most work, to repair an oronasal fistula - basically a hole that had developed in the roof of his mouth due to the bacteria in advanced periodontal disease. Pancho (as well as Campeon) also had shattered molars that had to be removed. The only way this can happen, the docs surmise, is by trauma to the mouth with something hard like a steel bar!!
Read the WAS Bolivian Lion Journal page about this mission, and how much better ColoColo is doing since his root canal in February.
Click HERE to view photos from this mission.
Mission: February 19, 2011
On February 19, 2011, PEIVDF visited WAS to assess the oral health of the (25) lions WAS rescued with Animal Defenders International (ADI) from deplorable conditions in Bolivia. To the credit of the Bolivian government, after uncovering the horrifying conditions in which circus animals were forced to live, Law 4040 was passed, which bans the used of animals in circuses in Bolivia. To read more about the work of ADI in finding a new home at WAS for these (25) lions, click HERE to visit the story on the WAS site.
While many of the animals were sedated, PEIVDF took the opportunity to work on (6) of the lions with known dental issues. Several extractions were unavoidable due to the lack of concern the circuses showed for their animals' health, but 3 root canals were performed. Poor ColoColo had a reputation as the "most ill-tempered lion" anyone at ADI had ever met. Not only did he suffer horrible abuse, but PEIVDF found that he had suffered from a broken canine for some time, judging by the size of the canal. The infection was horrible, and the foul-smelling material filling the canal was unbelievable. It is no wonder ColoColo was in a bad mood. PEIVDF has no doubt that his newly-cared for mouth and the amazing facility in which he and his countrymates are now living will elevate his mood a great deal.
Click HERE to view photos from this mission.
Mission: October 2010
On October 30, 2010, PEIVDF visited WAS to work on one of 25 bears rescued from a private facility in Texas that had fallen on bad times. Standards of care had declined at the Texas facility, leading the state's attorney general to close down the facility. WAS stepped forward to rescue the bears, as WAS is one of the few facilities in the US able to care for such large carnivores. Bears at WAS have custom built dens for winter - luxury residences by bear standards!
Yogi Bear was suffering from severe oral issues - periodontal disease, broken canines, bone loss, leading to grade 3 mobility in many teeth. Such advanced oral disease left Yogi with a dangerous systemic infection, which was evident in his demeanor, likened to depression by his new keepers.
One mission worker joined us on short notice to assist and learn. Poor Yogi resisted succumbing to anesthesia as long as he could, and once under, PEIVDF mission instructors, volunteers, and our student began the long day's work.
Yogi's lower incisors were so loose due to advanced periodontal disease that many had to be extracted - a last resort as far as PEIVDF is concerned. Several molars had periodontal leisions and mobility, as well. In addition to the unavoidable extractions, PEIVDF performed 3 root canals.
Yogi had a rough night, but Pat Craig, founder of WAS reported he was much improved the next day, enough to eat some soft food by evening. By Monday, Yogi was "peppy" and was released into his large compound for some sun and fresh air.
Without the advanced dental work provided by PEIVDF, Yogi's systemic infection left untreated would have no doubt worsened, and led to heart, liver, and/or kidney problems, and eventually death.
Click HERE to view photos from this mission. Click HERE to read their thank you letter to PEIVDF with an update on Yogi's condition.