Rescued Ukrainian Lioness Undergoes Critical Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
A three-year-old female lion saved from conflict-ridden the war zone has received critical oral operation to remove a badly decayed fang resulting from an abscess.
The lioness arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 after a campaign by director the sanctuary's leader, who collected £500,000 to support her and four other rescued lions.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The procedure was carried out on last week by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.
"When I examined Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see right away the damaged fang was highly inflamed," said Mr Kertesz.
He thought the infection was due to a injury sustained over twelve months back, leading to germs creating toxins inside the tooth.
"The approach I follow is animal dental problems need to be treated in the most predictable, the most conservative and safest way," he said.
The expert clarified that as the lioness did not need to hunt for food, removal was the most "logical and humane option."
The Animal Rescue Facility
The rescue center reported the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to extract a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and seal the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.
He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.
Briony Smith, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the procedure was a "complete success."
She noted the staff had spotted "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to determine "how serious the condition was."
"The lioness will be somewhat sore to initially, but now that the toxins are removed from her system, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," commented the curator.
The successful surgery marks a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.
