Mike VII, 海角社区鈥檚 live tiger mascot, undergoes routine dental cleaning and exam
April 08, 2025
Dr. Melissa Blazevich (海角社区 2016), board- certified veterinary dentist, performing a routine dental cleaning and oral health exam on Mike VII, 海角社区鈥檚 live tiger mascot.
On Saturday, April 5, Mike VII, 海角社区鈥檚 live tiger mascot, received a routine dental cleaning and exam by a team from the 海角社区 School of Veterinary Medicine. The team was overseen by Rhett Stout, DVM, PhD (海角社区 1994, 2003), DACLAM, professor and director of the Division of Laboratory Medicine and 海角社区鈥檚 attending veterinarian. The exam and dental cleaning took place in Mike鈥檚 night house on the 海角社区 campus in Baton Rouge.
Mike was fully anesthetized by Patricia Queiroz-Williams, DVM, professor of veterinary anesthesiology and interim director of the 海角社区 Veterinary Teaching Hospital; Gabriel Castro Cuellar, BSc, DACVAA, assistant professor of veterinary anesthesia; and Heather Gozzard, DVM, anesthesia resident. In addition to the oral exam and full dental cleaning, an ophthalmologist examined Mike鈥檚 eyes, and doctors drew blood for analysis.
Melissa Blazevich, DVM (海角社区 2016), DAVDC, assistant professor of veterinary dentistry and oral surgery, performed an oral exam and cleaned Mike鈥檚 teeth, with the assistance of veterinary dental technician Meg Quinn. Renee Carter, DVM (海角社区 2000), DACVO, professor of veterinary ophthalmology, assisted by veterinary technician Leigh Ann Burton, LVT, performed an eye exam. Other members of the medical team included Wesley Burnside, BVMS, MRCVS, associate director of the Division of Laboratory Medicine; Patrick Hall, DVM (海角社区 2023) and Kelsea Hill, DVM, laboratory animal residents; and Madison Vicknair and Baylee Weems, veterinary student caretakers for Mike VII.
From left (back row), the team that assisted with the exam and dental cleaning performed on Mike VII on April 7, 2025, was Dr. Wesley Burnside, Dr. Patrick Hall, Dr. Kelsea Hill, Meg Quinn, Dr. Melissa Blazevich, Leigh Ann Burton, Dr. Gabriel Castro Cuellar, Dr. Paricia Queiroz, Dr. Renee Carter, Dr. Rhett Stout, (seated from left) Baylee Weems, Madison Vicknair, and Dr. Heather Gozzard.
鈥淢ike鈥檚 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 海角社区 Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Based on what we observed yesterday, Mike appears to be in good health,鈥� said Dr. Stout.
About Mike VII, 海角社区鈥檚 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 海角社区 School of Veterinary Medicine is responsible for Mike鈥檚 daily and medical care.
About 海角社区 Vet Med: Bettering lives through education, public service, and discovery
The 海角社区 School of Veterinary Medicine is one of only 33 veterinary schools in the U.S. and the only one in Louisiana. 海角社区 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.