Saved Ukrainian Lion Undergoes Critical Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent lioness saved from conflict-ridden the war zone has received critical oral operation to remove a severely infected fang caused by an infection.
The lioness was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 following a campaign by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who collected half a million pounds to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Rescue Center
The procedure was performed 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 severely infected," said the dentist.
He believed the dental issue was caused by a injury experienced more than a year ago, causing bacteria producing toxins within the fang.
"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues should be addressed in the most predictable, the most conservative and safest way," he said.
Mr Kertesz clarified that as the lioness no longer required to hunt for food, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The sanctuary said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to extract a accumulated infection from under the fang and close the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.
He also performed a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.
Briony Smith, curator at the facility, declared the operation was a "complete success."
She said the team had spotted "a small lump 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 out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," added the curator.
The successful surgery represents a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.
