Robert Bruce Wiggs, DVM, DAVDC, died Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, of complications of heart disease at the age of 61. He performed his first veterinary root canal as a Texas A&M University student and went on to become a pioneer in animal dentistry, treating animals at his North Dallas clinic and at zoos in Dallas, Fort Worth and Abilene.

Wiggs is the author of Veterinary Dentistry Principles and Practice, which has been described as "the bible of veterinary dentistry."

He was an internationally recognized authority who made presentations to animal dentistry societies in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, England and Scotland.

Wiggs earned his bachelor's degree in animal science at Texas A&M University, where he received a doctor of veterinary medicine degree in 1973. He was a member of the first class to enter the American Veterinary Dental College by examination, in 1989, and served as the group's president from 1998 to 2000.

He received the Peter Emily AVDC Service Award in 1994 for his contributions to veterinary dentistry and the American Veterinary Dental Society's Research and Education Award in 1999.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, the Dallas Zoo, the Fort Worth Zoo, Boxer Rescue or the Peter Emily International Veterinary Dental Foundation.