Support The Moscow Times!

Russian Vet Clinic Treats Hedgehog's Dental Distress

A veterinary clinic in the Urals city of Chelyabinsk has treated a pet hedgehog by removing 20 of its teeth in one go, the Interfax news agency said.

The spiny animal's owner had turned to the clinic complaining of the hedgehog's loss of appetite and an unpleasant odor, vet Karen Dallakyan told Interfax on Monday.

Upon inspection, the hedgehog was found to be suffering from severe tooth decay caused by improper feeding, Dallakyan said.

In the wild, hedgehogs maintain their teeth by gnawing on insects and small animals such as mice, whereas the hedgehog in dental distress had been fed soft food it could swallow without chewing — such as cat food, milk and raw eggs, Dallakyan said.

Following a one-hour operation using microscopic tools, the hedgehog was left with three canines and one incisor, the vet said.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more