Saved from Ukraine Lioness Receives Essential Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent lioness rescued from conflict-ridden the war zone has undergone vital dental surgery to extract a severely infected fang caused by an abscess.
Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 after a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who collected £500,000 to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The surgery was carried out on last week by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the damaged fang was highly inflamed," stated the dentist.
He thought the dental issue was due to a injury experienced more than a year ago, leading to germs creating toxins within the fang.
"My philosophy is non-human dental problems should be addressed in the safest, the most conservative and most secure manner," he said.
The expert explained that as the lioness no longer required to catch prey, removal was the most "logical and humane option."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The sanctuary said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to remove a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and seal the large wound 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, said the procedure was a "total triumph."
She noted the staff had spotted "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to determine "how serious the condition was."
"Lira will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the toxins are removed from her system, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," added Ms Smith.
This vital operation represents a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.
