Rescued from Ukraine Lioness Receives Essential Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
A three-year-old lioness rescued from war-torn the war zone has undergone critical oral operation to remove a badly decayed fang resulting from an infection.
The lioness arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 following a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who collected half a million pounds 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 cared for hundreds of large felines.
"When I examined Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the damaged fang was severely infected," said Mr Kertesz.
He believed the infection was caused by a injury sustained over twelve months back, leading to germs creating harmful substances inside the tooth.
"The approach I follow is non-human dental problems need to be treated in the safest, the most conservative and safest way," he explained.
The expert explained that as the lioness did not need to hunt for food, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."
The Animal Rescue Facility
The sanctuary said the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to extract a pocket of pus from under the fang and seal the significant opening 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, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the procedure was a "complete success."
She noted the team 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 a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the coming days," commented Ms Smith.
The successful surgery marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.