Saved Ukrainian Lion Undergoes Critical Dental Operation
The Big Cat Sanctuary
A three-year-old lioness rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received vital dental surgery to extract a severely infected canine tooth caused by an abscess.
The lioness was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 following a campaign by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who collected half a million pounds to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Rescue Center
The procedure was carried out on Friday by veterinary dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.
"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the broken tooth was highly inflamed," said the dentist.
He believed the dental issue was caused by a injury experienced more than a year ago, causing germs producing harmful substances within the fang.
"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues need to be treated in the most predictable, the least invasive and safest way," he explained.
Mr Kertesz clarified that as the lioness no longer required to catch prey, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The sanctuary said the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and seal the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.
He also performed a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.
Briony Smith, manager at the facility, declared the operation was a "complete success."
She noted the staff had observed "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "the extent of the problem."
"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will begin improving over the coming days," commented Ms Smith.
The successful surgery represents a significant step in Lira's recovery after her arrival from the conflict area.
