Intensive Dental Surgery Relieves Rescued Armenian Bears From Toothache And Torment

International Animal Rescue's (IAR) expert dental team travelled to Armenia to ease years of suffering and deliver life-changing dental surgery.

Two bears rescued from harrowing captivity last month have received urgent and complex dental surgery to repair the devastating damage caused by years of biting metal cage bars and being fed junk food.

Working in partnership with the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC), the International Animal Rescue (IAR) team brought in their top veterinary dentists from the UK to treat Noah and Aram, two of the most recent bears rescued from lives of neglect and confinement.

When Noah and Aram were rescued, the condition of their teeth told a tragic story. Their teeth were broken decaying, and their gums were swollen and infected, a result of years spent gnawing on iron bars in sheer desperation and stress. Also, we must mention the videos we have seen of them being fed fizzy drinks. Left untreated, dental disease can lead to chronic pain, infection, and severe health complications in bears.

The dental team comprised Paul Cassar, IAR Trustee and dentist from Chichester and Gerhard Putter, veterinary dental specialist based in Cambridge. Over the years, these dental experts have made numerous trips to IAR's rescue centres and treated a range of wild animals, including lions, tigers, bears and orangutans.

The surgery, carried out last week, was both urgent and intensive. Noah, who had already endured years of suffering, was found to have even more extensive damage than initially expected. His surgery lasted over four hours, during which two teeth were extracted.

Noah had a split canine tooth that had fractured down its entire length, allowing infection to spread deep into his jawbone. He also had a large and rotten incisor, which had to be removed due to advanced decay.

IAR President Alan Knight OBE, who was present during the surgery, said:

"Seeing the size of Noah's rotten incisor, it's heartbreaking to imagine the pain he must have been living in. No animal should have to endure this level of suffering. Our team did an extraordinary job, and I'm so proud of what they've achieved for these beautiful bears."

Aram, a massive bear weighing 240kg, also underwent major dental work. He had a canine root canal and two molars removed during another complex four-hour surgery.

The day after surgery, both Noah and Aram were reported to be recovering well and eating, a clear sign of relief from the chronic pain they'd been living with.

Alan Knight continued:

"This isn't the first time we've carried out dental surgery on a bear in Armenia, and sadly, it won't be the last. We believe as many as 50 caged bears still suffer in silence. They need our help now."

These surgeries mark a significant step in giving Noah and Aram a new life free from pain, but their recovery, care, and future depend on ongoing support.

Please visit www.internationalanimalrescue.org to donate and help provide the specialist care they and other rescued bears so desperately need.


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