Saved Ukrainian Lion Undergoes Critical Dental Operation
The Big Cat Sanctuary
A three-year-old lioness saved from conflict-ridden the war zone has received critical dental surgery to extract a severely infected fang resulting from an abscess.
Lira was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March after a campaign by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who raised half a million pounds to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The procedure was performed on last week by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"When I examined Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the damaged fang was highly inflamed," said the dentist.
He thought the dental issue was due to a trauma experienced more than a year ago, leading to bacteria creating toxins within the fang.
"My philosophy is non-human dental problems need to be treated in the most predictable, the most conservative and most secure manner," he said.
Mr Kertesz explained that as Lira did not need to hunt for food, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."
The Animal Rescue Facility
The sanctuary reported the removed fang 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 seven dissolving sutures.
He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.
The curator, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the procedure was a "total triumph."
She noted the staff had observed "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "the extent of the problem."
"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the infectious materials are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the coming days," added the curator.
The successful surgery marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.
