Rescued Ukrainian Lioness Receives Essential Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
A three-year-old lioness saved from war-torn Ukraine has undergone vital oral operation to extract a badly decayed canine tooth resulting from an abscess.
Lira was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 following a fundraising effort by director Cam Whitnall, who collected £500,000 to support her and four other rescued lions.
The Rescue Center
The surgery was performed on Friday by veterinary dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.
"When I examined Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the damaged fang was severely infected," stated the dentist.
He believed the infection was due to a trauma experienced more than a year ago, causing bacteria creating harmful substances within the fang.
"My philosophy is non-human dental problems should be addressed in the most predictable, the least invasive and safest way," he said.
Mr Kertesz explained that as the lioness no longer required to hunt for food, removal was the most "logical and humane option."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The sanctuary reported the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to remove a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.
He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.
Briony Smith, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the operation was a "total triumph."
She said the team had spotted "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to assess "the extent of the problem."
"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will begin improving over the coming days," commented the curator.
The successful surgery represents a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her arrival from the conflict area.
