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Gerhard SteenkampVeterinary dentist
Date of Birth: .
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Content:
- Dr. Gerhard Steenkamp: The World-Traveling Wildlife Dentist
- The Pain of Toothaches: A Reality for Animals
- A Peripatetic Practice
- The Challenges of Uncooperative Patients
- Anesthesia: A Necessary Aid
- Custom-Designed Tools and Safety Precautions
- An Unseen Impact
Dr. Gerhard Steenkamp: The World-Traveling Wildlife Dentist
A Unique SpecialtyDr. Gerhard Steenkamp is a renowned veterinary dentist who embarks on global expeditions to provide dental care to...wild animals. Zoos, national parks, and nature reserves worldwide face the challenges of animal dentistry, and specialists like Steenkamp are few and far between.
The Pain of Toothaches: A Reality for Animals
Animals suffer from toothaches just like humans do. Dr. Steenkamp has dedicated his career to alleviating this pain, treating a vast array of species: bears, elephants, lions, tigers, rhinos, hippos, raccoons, hedgehogs, lynxes, dolphins, and even rats.
A Peripatetic Practice
The past fifteen years have seen Steenkamp crisscrossing Africa, China, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and beyond, performing approximately 500 operations annually. Broken teeth and infections are the most prevalent dental issues among wild animals.
The Challenges of Uncooperative Patients
Handling wild animals in pain is an inherent challenge. Over the years, Steenkamp has mastered techniques to manage even the most unwilling patients. With a chuckle, he notes that he has the good fortune of being far away when bears, cheetahs, or tigers awaken from anesthesia, leaving the aftercare to others. However, physical tasks like extracting a rhino's tusk or cleaning and filling a six-ton elephant's root canal are far from easy.
Anesthesia: A Necessary Aid
Persuading wild animals to cooperate is impossible, so Steenkamp relies on anesthesia to perform his procedures safely. The Pretoria native began his veterinary dental career in South Africa, where his first patient was a hippopotamus at the Pretoria Zoo.
Custom-Designed Tools and Safety Precautions
Steenkamp's tools bear little resemblance to those found in human dental offices, often resembling medieval torture implements. He has designed many of these tools himself to meet the unique demands of working with large animals. Extensive preparation and safety measures are paramount before and after each operation to ensure the well-being of both animal and humans.
An Unseen Impact
Dr. Steenkamp's patients may never express gratitude, but his passion stems from a deep understanding of the profound impact his work has. He recognizes the suffering caused by untreated dental pain and the inability of animals to seek help or express their discomfort. Through his tireless efforts, Steenkamp alleviates the hidden pain experienced by animal inhabitants of zoos, parks, and reserves worldwide.
