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Left: The teeth of a California sea lion
receive a brushing. The sea lions and
grey seals have their teeth brushed
three to four times a week.

Over in TROPIC WORLD, Kimberly Palacios, senior
“Open Wide” animal care specialist, works with primates. Most of the

Animal care specialists play an important role in the oral health orangutans have their teeth brushed with human toothbrushes.
care of Brookfield Zoo’s animals. They work most closely with Electric toothbrushes and Waterpiks® are sometimes used
the animals—often for many years with the same animals. on the calmer, older animals.
For the past 25 years, Jennifer McGee has worked with bottle- The animals are trained to voluntarily hold their mouth
nose dolphins, California sea lions, and grey seals at Brookfield open. (See “Animal Training” on page 31.) Training this
Zoo’s SEVEN SEAS and PINNIPED POINT. She is associate behavior takes anywhere from five to 10 training sessions, said
curator of Animal Care & Programs and formerly the lead Palacios, with each session lasting about five minutes, once a
animal care specialist with the Marine Mammals department. day. “The number of sessions depends on the relationship you
“Dental care is different for each species,” she said. have with the animal and the animal —orangutans are smart.”
For example, California sea lions are susceptible to developing Teaching an animal to allow its teeth to be brushed takes
dental and gum diseases. “We teach them to allow us to more time—up to several months—because the animal is also
brush their teeth regularly—three or four times a week.” introduced to toothbrushes and to having a toothbrush touch
Human or canine toothbrushes are used with water. its teeth. Palacios regularly swaps toothbrushing and other
On the other hand, dolphins don’t require tooth brushing, animal-care tips with staff at other Association of Zoos and
said McGee. Their teeth are spaced so far apart from each other Aquariums-accredited institutions that participate in AZA’s
that food particles do not get trapped between them. Also, Orangutan Species Survival Plan®. Animal care specialists
dolphins are constantly immersed in water while sea lions haul post tips and photos on a website. “We share communication
out onto land for extended periods of time when bacteria and and can improve our own techniques,” said Palacios.
tartar can build up on their teeth. “We monitor the dolphins’ To identify animals with oral health issues, observant animal
oral health daily,” said McGee. “We are able to look into their care specialists watch them eat and look for animals that:
mouth, under their tongue, and in the back of their throat.” • Eat less than they normally do
During an animal’s oral exam, animal care specialists are • Drop food while eating
typically on the lookout for tartar buildup, bleeding gums, • Drool excessively
chipped teeth, mouth lesions, swellings, bad breath, and lost • Favor one side of the mouth when chewing
teeth. Teeth are often missing in older animals. “Some of our • Choose to eat softer rather than harder foods
seals and sea lions typically live 10 to 15 years longer in a zoo “It can be the most subtle thing that tells you something
setting than they would in the wild,” said McGee. is up. Then you investigate.” Or contact a veterinarian.

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