Rescued Ukrainian Lioness Undergoes Critical Surgery
The Big Cat Sanctuary
A three-year-old female lion saved from war-torn the war zone has undergone vital dental surgery to remove a badly decayed canine tooth caused by an infection.
The lioness arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 following a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised £500,000 to fund her and four other rescued lions.
The Rescue Center
The surgery was carried out on Friday by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.
"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see right away the broken tooth was severely infected," stated the dentist.
He thought the dental issue was due to a trauma sustained over twelve months back, leading to bacteria creating toxins within the fang.
"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues should be addressed in the most predictable, the least invasive and most secure manner," he explained.
The expert explained that as the lioness did not need to catch prey, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Animal Rescue Facility
The sanctuary reported the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to remove a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and seal the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.
He also performed a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.
The curator, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the procedure was a "complete success."
She said the team had observed "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to assess "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 start to feel much better over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.
This vital operation marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.
