Rescued from Ukraine Lion Receives Critical Dental Operation
The Big Cat Sanctuary
An adolescent lioness saved from war-torn the war zone has received vital oral operation to extract a badly decayed canine tooth resulting from an abscess.
Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 after a fundraising effort by director Cam Whitnall, who raised half a million pounds to fund her and four other rescued lions.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The procedure was performed on Friday by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the damaged fang was severely infected," said Mr Kertesz.
He believed the infection was due to a injury sustained over twelve months back, causing germs creating toxins inside the tooth.
"The approach I follow is animal dental problems need to be treated in the safest, the least invasive and safest way," he explained.
Mr Kertesz explained that as the lioness no longer required to catch prey, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The sanctuary said the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a pocket of pus from under the fang and close the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.
He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.
The curator, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the procedure was a "complete success."
She said the team had spotted "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been difficult to assess "the extent of the problem."
"Lira will be somewhat sore to initially, but now that the infectious materials are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.
The successful surgery marks a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.
