A dentist based in Chichester, West Sussex, has recounted the dramatic experience of resuscitating a sloth bear during surgery in India. The dentist, who has 40 years of experience, typically treats human patients but began working with International Animal Rescue (IAR) in 2000 after learning about bears needing dental care due to injuries inflicted by poachers.
His first animal patient was a 14-year-old, 180kg sloth bear named Anthony, who had a large benign tumour on his gum preventing him from eating. The operation, intended to be straightforward, involved removing the tumour and some broken teeth. More than three hours into the surgery, Anthony's pulse plummeted, his breathing stopped, and he was pronounced dead by local vets.
The anaesthesia was identified as the cause, with local anaesthetists having limited experience and potentially administering too much to an unwell animal. Following the pronouncement, the dentist performed CPR on Anthony, gave him adrenaline, and pounded his chest. After three minutes, Anthony began breathing independently again and went on to live for another decade.
Since this experience, the dentist has continued to work with IAR, performing dentistry on 200 bears, half a dozen tigers, lions, hyenas, gorillas, and orangutans. He notes that animal dentistry presents unique challenges, including the larger size of animal teeth requiring bigger tools.