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Polar bear goes to the doctor for root canal, eye work and manicure

A sleeping giant, Boris the Polar bear underwent a full physical Saturday, at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium's animal hospital in Tacoma, Wash., as a team of veterinarians, technicians and staff also performed a root canal and some minor eye surgery on the 27-year-old polar bear. Continue reading 'Root canal, eye work for Point Defiance polar bear' on The News Tribune.Editor's note: Images shot
Head veterinarian, Dr. Karen Wolf, clips the massive claws of Boris the Polar bear during a physical at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Wash.
Head veterinarian, Dr. Karen Wolf, clips the massive claws of Boris the Polar bear during a physical at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Wash.Dean J. Koepfler / Tacoma News Tribune / Today
By PhotoBlog
Dr. Edmund Kwan performs a root canal as Dr. Tom Sullivan removed a growth from the eye lid of Boris, a Pt. Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Polar bear on Feb. 23 at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium's animal health care hospital in Tacoma, Wash.
Dr. Edmund Kwan performs a root canal as Dr. Tom Sullivan removed a growth from the eye lid of Boris, a Pt. Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Polar bear on Feb. 23 at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium's animal health care hospital in Tacoma, Wash.Tacoma News Tribune / Getty Images Contributor / Today
Head veterinarian, Dr. Karen Wolf, clips the massive claws of Boris the Polar bear during a physical at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Wash.
Head veterinarian, Dr. Karen Wolf, clips the massive claws of Boris the Polar bear during a physical at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Wash.Dean J. Koepfler / Tacoma News Tribune / Today
Carson Reed, 6, hugs his stuffed polar bear, Poley, after a physical for Boris the real Polar Bear is performed by his dad, Dr. Jim Reed, and other team members.
Carson Reed, 6, hugs his stuffed polar bear, Poley, after a physical for Boris the real Polar Bear is performed by his dad, Dr. Jim Reed, and other team members.Dean J. Koepfler / Tacoma News Tribune / Today
A pair of gloved hands are dwarfed by the furry paws of Boris the Polar Bear at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium's animal health care hospital in Tacoma, Wash.
A pair of gloved hands are dwarfed by the furry paws of Boris the Polar Bear at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium's animal health care hospital in Tacoma, Wash.Dean J. Koepfler / Tacoma News Tribune / Today

A sleeping giant, Boris the Polar bear underwent a full physical Saturday, at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium's animal hospital in Tacoma, Wash., as a team of veterinarians, technicians and staff also performed a root canal and some minor eye surgery on the 27-year-old polar bear. Continue reading 'Root canal, eye work for Point Defiance polar bear' on The News Tribune.

Editor's note: Images shot by Tacoma News Tribune's Dean J. Koepfler on Feb. 23, but made available to NBC News today.

Related links:
More polar bears pictures on PhotoBlog
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