The Big Cat Sanctuary
An adolescent lioness rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received vital oral operation to remove a severely infected fang caused by an infection.
Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March after a campaign by director Cam Whitnall, who raised £500,000 to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Rescue Center
The surgery was carried out on last week by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.
"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the broken tooth was highly inflamed," said Mr Kertesz.
He believed the dental issue was caused by a injury sustained more than a year ago, causing germs creating toxins inside the tooth.
"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues should be addressed in the most predictable, the least invasive and safest way," he explained.
Mr Kertesz explained that as the lioness no longer required to hunt for food, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Animal Rescue Facility
The rescue center said the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and close the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.
He also performed a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was discovered to have a similar issue.
The curator, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the procedure was a "complete success."
She said the staff had observed "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been difficult to determine "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 start to feel much better over the coming days," added Ms Smith.
This vital operation represents a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.
