Tooth Be Told: LSU's live tiger mascot gets an oral exam and dental cleaning

How many people does it take to clean a tiger's teeth? When you couple that with an eye exam and other aspects of a basic physical exam, the answer is 13 (or at least that was the answer on April 5, 2025). 

The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is responsible for the daily and medical care for LSU's live tiger mascot, Mike VII. LSU Vet Med has provided care for LSU's live mascots since 1976. Not only does this provide the tiger with the best available veterinary care, it also provides unique educational opportunities for LSU Vet Med students, particularly the two LSU Vet Med students selected to be part of Mike's daily care team. 

"We advocate for his health in so many ways, and this exam was only one of them. I'm fortunate to be able to say Mike is a healthy boy. This experience has truly been the greatest of my life, and I don't know if anything will ever top it." - Bailey Weems, Class of 2026 DVM student and one of Mike's veterinary student caretakers

On the morning of Saturday, April 5, a medical team composed of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary students arrived at the Tiger Habitat located on LSU's Baton Rouge campus to perform an oral exam and dental cleaning, along with an eye exam. Rhett Stout, DVM, Ph.D. (LSU 1994, 2003), professor and director of the Division of Laboratory Medicine and LSU’s attending veterinarian, along with Madison Vicknair and Baylee Weems, Mike's veterinary student caretakers, checked on Mike in his night house first. Then the anesthesia team went in to put Mike under anesthesia.

Patricia Queiroz-Williams, DVM, professor of veterinary anesthesiology and interim director of the LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital, has extensive experience anesthetizing tigers and was part of the team that worked with Mike VI during his cancer diagnosis and treatment. With her were Gabriel Castro Cuellar, BSc, DACVAA, assistant professor of veterinary anesthesia; and Heather Gozzard, DVM, anesthesia resident.

Once Mike was anesthetized, the rest of the team entered the night house. Renee Carter, DVM (LSU 2000), DACVO, professor of veterinary ophthalmology, assisted by veterinary technician Leigh Ann Burton, LVT, performed an eye exam. 

Next, Melissa Blazevich, DVM (LSU 2016), DAVDC, assistant professor of veterinary dentistry and oral surgery, performed an oral exam and cleaned Mike’s teeth, with the assistance of veterinary dental technician Meg Quinn. 

"I had a blast working on Mike VII," said Dr. Blazevich. "It was definitely a bucket list item since entering my residency in veterinary dentistry many years ago. Oral health is often overlooked and under-treated in the companion animal world but even more so with big felines for many factors. Good oral health is a key to good systemic oral health. Mike VII is iconic, and I am honored to be a part of his health care team." 

"I had a blast working on Mike VII. It was definitely a bucket list item since entering my residency in veterinary dentistry many years ago. Oral health is often overlooked and under-treated in the companion animal world but even more so with big felines for many factors. Good oral health is a key to good systemic oral health. Mike VII is iconic, and I am honored to be a part of his health care team." - Dr. Melissa Blazevich

Added Quinn, "Being able to be so close to our beautiful Mike was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Assisting my incredible doctor, Dr. Blazevich, cross off one of her bucket list items of working with Mike, was so exciting to be a part of. Being a part of this incredible team of doctors and technicians, while we provided care to an animal that we all hold so dear to our hearts, was a dream come true."

Other members of the medical team drew blood for analysis. These members of the team included Wesley Burnside, BVMS, MRCVS, associate director of the Division of Laboratory Medicine; Patrick Hall, DVM (LSU 2023) and Kelsea Hill, DVM, laboratory animal residents; and Madison Vicknair and Bailee Weems, veterinary student caretakers for Mike VII. The entire process took less than three hours.

“Mike’s exam went well. We were able to give him a full dental cleaning, oral exam, and eye exam. We also drew blood, which will be evaluated at the LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Based on what we observed yesterday, Mike appears to be in good health,” said Dr. Stout.

"Since becoming one of his caretakers, I've formed such a beautiful bond with Mike that I didn't even imagine was possible," said Weems. "My number one priority is to be his voice and ensure that he is kept happy and healthy. Being able to participate in his dental cleaning and physical exam was crucial for me and my partner Maddie because we are the ones who see him and interact with him on a daily basis. We, more than anyone, can recognize if something is abnormal or if anything has changed with Mike. We advocate for his health in so many ways, and this exam was only one of them. I'm fortunate to be able to say Mike is a healthy boy. This experience has truly been the greatest of my life, and I don't know if anything will ever top it."

About Mike VII, LSU’s Live Tiger Mascot

Mike VII is the only live tiger mascot in the U.S. He lives on the Baton Rouge campus in a habitat that includes a 14,000 square foot yard with two pools, grass, and other natural substrates. He also has a climate-controlled night house, providing another 1,000 square feet. The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is responsible for Mike’s daily and medical care.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MIKE THE TIGER

About LSU Vet Med: Bettering lives through education, public service, and discovery

The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is one of only 33 veterinary schools in the U.S. and the only one in Louisiana. LSU Vet Med is dedicated to improving and protecting the lives of animals and people through superior education, transformational research, and compassionate care. We teach. We heal. We discover. We protect.