PICTURES: Lino the vicuna has good reason to smile now at Highland Wildlife Park
A vicuna with a tooth issue has received a visit from the dentist at Highland Wildlife Park.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s vet team undertook the procedure to tackle Lino’s lower incisors, which were growing forwards instead of upwards.
The wildlife conservation charity’s vet surgeon, Rebecca Amos, said: “A vicuna’s lower incisors continuously grow and are normally worn down through grazing.
“It seems Lino has an unusual growth pattern which means his teeth don’t grind down as they should.
“Without regular dental intervention, this could affect his comfort and overall health, so ongoing treatment is essential.
“We filed the tooth down and are really pleased with how it went. Lino recovered well and was happily reunited with his herd after about an hour.”
To carry out the procedure safely, Lino was anaesthetised by the park’s veterinary team who also made the most of the opportunity to trim his toenails, check his weight, and perform routine health checks.
The dental treatment itself took around 10 minutes
There are no nerves in the section of enamel trimmed so the procedure was painless.
Vicuna are the smallest members of the camel family and a relative of llamas and alpacas.
They are native to the high alpine areas of the Andes Mountains in South America.
Visitors wanting to see Lino and the vicuna herd can save money on park tickets when they book online highlandwildlifepark.org.uk/tickets.