Saved from Ukraine Lioness Receives Critical Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent female lion rescued from war-torn Ukraine has received vital oral operation to remove a badly decayed fang caused by an abscess.
The lioness arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March following a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who collected £500,000 to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The surgery was performed on Friday by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the damaged fang was severely infected," stated the dentist.
He believed the dental issue was caused by a injury experienced over twelve months back, leading to bacteria producing toxins within the fang.
"My philosophy is animal dental problems need to be treated in the safest, the least invasive and safest way," he said.
The expert explained that as Lira no longer required to catch prey, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The sanctuary said the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to remove a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and seal the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.
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 facility, declared the procedure was a "complete success."
She noted the team had observed "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to determine "how serious the condition was."
"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will begin improving over the next few days," added the curator.
This vital operation represents a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.
