Saved Ukrainian Lioness Receives Critical Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
A three-year-old female lion rescued from war-torn Ukraine has undergone vital dental surgery to remove a severely infected fang caused by an infection.
Lira was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March following a campaign by director Cam Whitnall, who raised half a million pounds to fund her and four other rescued lions.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The procedure was performed on last week by veterinary dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the broken tooth was severely infected," said the dentist.
He believed the infection was caused by a trauma sustained more than a year ago, leading to germs producing harmful substances within the fang.
"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues should be addressed in the most predictable, the most conservative and most secure manner," he said.
The expert explained that as the lioness did not need to catch prey, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."
The Animal Rescue Facility
The sanctuary said the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and close the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.
He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.
Briony Smith, curator at the facility, declared the procedure was a "complete success."
She said 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 begin with, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," added Ms Smith.
The successful surgery marks a significant step in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.
