3 days Ago
Images show the moment that Rico, a 25-year-old two-toed sloth, willingly clambered in front of an X-ray machine for a once-over. Keepers were the first to spot that he had swellings on the side of his face. A series of check-ups, including a CT scan, revealed that Rico had two root abscesses.
Sloths can develop abscesses in the wild, but Rico was lucky to have help on hand, and experts from Newcastle University were called in to perform an endodontic procedure. (function (d, s, n) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; js = d.
createElement(s); js.className = n; js.src = "//player.
ex.co/player/b4417f62-c8b9-479d-8ec5-dc976c73cf83"; fjs.parentNode.
insertBefore(js, fjs); js.setAttribute('programmatic', 'true'); js.onload = function () { const playerApi243196 = ExCoPlayer.
connect('b4417f62-c8b9-479d-8ec5-dc976c73cf83'); playerApi243196.init({ "autoPlay": false, "mute": true, "showAds": true, "playbackMode": "play-in-view", "content": { "playFirst": [ { "title": "Two-toed sloth Rico undergoes a final check-up after surgery", "src": "https://large-cdn.ex.
co/transformations-account/production/4a3bc053-9182-43c6-a264-62b0fb218ea8/e66fc18e-4ce7-4c1e-aad8-2a066edc8e78/720p.mp4" } ], "playlistId": "649aeff379e0a90012adb264" }, "sticky": { "mode": "persistent", "closeButton": true, "pauseOnClose": true, "desktop": { "enabled": false, "position": "bottom-right" }, "mobile": { "enabled": false, "position": "upper-small" } }}); }; }(document, 'script', 'exco-player')); The three-hour surgery, conducted inside the zoo’s on-site animal care centre, saw a specialist team remove infected tissue around two of the sloth’s teeth – large triangular molars with crooked tips, specially evolved for a diet of tough leaves and vegetables. They managed to save one tooth and stop any infection spreading, with Rico being monitored regularly since the procedure.
Charlotte Bentley, veterinary resident at the zoo, said: “Sloths have very different teeth to humans, which makes dentistry challenging. “Like so many things with sloths, the exact purpose of these specialised sharp teeth is not fully understood. (Image: Chester Zoo) “However, they are thought to serve an important role in biting and shearing their food, o we were eager to avoid any extractions during the initial operation.
“While we couldn’t save both teeth, the great news is that since his procedure, the abscesses have not come back, and his latest X-ray shows his filling is still in place.” Unlike a typical root canal, dental experts went in through the bottom of Rico’s tooth, through the side of his mandible. OTHER NEWS: Dave Edwards, clinical fellow at Newcastle University’s School of Dental Sciences, said: “A three-dimensional scan showed that routine root canal treatment would not be possible, therefore we undertook surgery to debride the abscess and complete an ‘apicectomy’.
“This involved removing the end of the tooth root and sealing it with a special cement. “Both abscesses cleared up within a week, and it's great that Rico remains free of any issues. “It was very challenging working on a sloth due to their unique anatomy, but also a very rewarding experience.
” Persuading a sloth to position himself for an X-ray is a process in itself. Gentle training techniques are used where possible, so animals don’t have to undergo repeat anaesthetics for routine procedures. Rico has been trained to climb down towards his keepers when they call his name in a low voice.
Brittany Williams, a keeper on the Twilight Team at Chester Zoo, has patiently worked with him over several years to acclimatise him to being checked for lumps and bumps and to keep his mouth open so his teeth can be inspected. “He goes at his own pace,” Brittany laughed, when Rico spent a few minutes yawning and blinking before heading to his health check. “But I don’t mind working at sloth speed.
”.
