Saved from Ukraine Lioness Undergoes Critical Dental Operation
The Big Cat Sanctuary
An adolescent lioness rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone vital dental surgery to extract a severely infected fang resulting from an abscess.
The lioness was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March after a fundraising effort by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who collected half a million pounds to support her and four other rescued lions.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The procedure was carried out on last week by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.
"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the damaged fang was severely infected," said the dentist.
He believed the dental issue was caused by a injury experienced over twelve months back, causing germs producing toxins inside the tooth.
"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues should be addressed in the most predictable, the least invasive and most secure manner," he said.
Mr Kertesz explained that as Lira no longer required to hunt for food, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The rescue center said the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to remove a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.
He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.
The curator, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the operation was a "complete success."
She said the team had spotted "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to determine "how serious the condition was."
"The lioness will be somewhat sore to initially, but now that the infectious materials are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the coming days," added Ms Smith.
The successful surgery represents a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.
