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Video by Dee Crawford

T262 Hella Military Working Dog Tooth Extraction

Training Support Activity Europe

Feb. 19, 2016 | 1:11

On 11 February 2016, MWD Hella T262, a 5.5 year old, female, spayed Belgian Malanios presented for a routine dental cleaning. During this cleaning, incisor 302 (one of the front teeth on the lower jaw) was found to be fractured and the root was exposed. Radiographs were taken, and an area of lucency (lighter area compared to the surrounding bone and tooth) was found at the base of the tooth below the gumline indicating a possible root abscess (infection). On 19 February, Hella T262 presented to the VTF to extract that fractured tooth. When she first arrived, her temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate were measured and the veterinarian performed a physical exam to make sure she was ok to undergo another anesthetic event. She was then given a sedative/pain medication combination to help take the edge off and to have pain medication on board before the potentially painful event begins. Once she was sedate, a catheter was placed in her right front arm to provide fluid therapy during the anesthetic event. She was then induced for anesthesia and an endotracheal tube was placed in her trachea. This allows us to deliver oxygen and the anesthetic gas directly into the lungs of the animal. After the tube was placed properly, the anesthetic gas was delivered to the patient throughout the procedure. The veterinary technician and Hella’s handler connected several monitoring devices to her body which included a rectal thermometer, non-invasive blood pressure, end-tidal CO2, echocardiograph and heart rate leads, and the veterinarian administered a local anesthetic for that tooth. After the local set in, the veterinarian started the tooth extraction. Several different sized and shaped elevators were used to slowly break down the periodontal ligament. This ligament is almost like a zipper that surrounds the entire tooth, holding it in place. To remove the tooth, these zipper-like connections have to be broken. The elevators help in this process. Eventually, the periodontal ligament was broken enough to pull the tooth out. The hole was flushed with sterile saline and packed with an absorbent material to facilitate clotting. Radiographs were taken to make sure the entire tooth was removed. It was. The absorbent material was removed and the hole was closed with two small stitches. The anesthetic gas was discontinued, and when the patient was swallowing on her own, the endotracheal tube was removed. When she started to lift her head, additional pain medication was given, and she also went home with a supply of pain medication. Recovery was uneventful, and Hella T262 is back at work, happy and healthy.(U.S. Army Video by Visual Information Specialist Dee Crawford/Released)