A 15-year-old 8.0-kg (17.6-lb) sexually intact male North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) was evaluated because abraded teeth and a fractured tooth were noted during an annual physical examination by the zoo veterinarian. The otter was born in captivity and had been transferred to its current location approximately 7 years prior to this evaluation. No changes in appetite, signs of oral pain (eg, ptyalism, dropping of food, or preference for softer food), or changes in behavior had been detected by the veterinarian or zoo staff. The otter underwent oral and general physical examinations under general anesthesia annually, including collection of a blood sample for hematologic and biochemical analysis and thoracic or abdominal radiography whenapplicable. It did not have any prior dental history other than examinations. The otter's diet consisted of commercial dry cat food, fish (capelin, herring, mackerel, and smelt), carrots, and chicks; oxtails had also been provided in the past, but thesehad been omitted from the diet for approximately 1 year.
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