Saved from Ukraine Lioness Receives Essential Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent lioness rescued from war-torn Ukraine has undergone critical dental surgery to extract a severely infected fang caused by an abscess.
Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March after a campaign by director the sanctuary's leader, who collected £500,000 to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Rescue Center
The surgery was performed on last week by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"When I examined Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see right away the broken tooth was severely infected," said the dentist.
He believed the infection was due to a injury experienced more than a year ago, leading to germs producing toxins within the fang.
"My philosophy is animal dental problems need to be treated in the safest, the most conservative and safest way," he explained.
The expert clarified that as the lioness did not need to hunt for food, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The rescue center said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to remove a accumulated infection from under the fang and seal the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.
He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was discovered to have a similar issue.
The curator, curator at the facility, declared the operation was a "complete success."
She noted the staff had spotted "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "the extent of the problem."
"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," added the curator.
The successful surgery marks a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.
