Saved from Ukraine Lion Undergoes Essential Dental Operation
The Big Cat Sanctuary
A three-year-old female lion rescued from conflict-ridden the war zone has undergone vital dental surgery to extract a badly decayed canine tooth resulting from an infection.
The lioness was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March after a fundraising effort by director the sanctuary's leader, who collected £500,000 to support her and four other rescued lions.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The surgery was performed on last week by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the broken tooth was highly inflamed," stated the dentist.
He thought the infection was caused by a injury experienced over twelve months back, leading to germs creating toxins within the fang.
"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues need to be treated in the most predictable, the most conservative and most secure manner," he explained.
The expert explained that as Lira no longer required to hunt for food, removal was the most "logical and humane option."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The sanctuary reported the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to remove a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and seal the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.
He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was discovered to have a similar issue.
Briony Smith, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the operation was a "total triumph."
She said the staff had spotted "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to determine "how serious the condition was."
"Lira will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.
The successful surgery represents a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.