Rescued from Ukraine Lion Undergoes Critical Surgery
A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent lioness rescued from conflict-ridden the war zone has received vital dental surgery to remove a badly decayed canine tooth caused by an infection.
The lioness was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March following a campaign by director the sanctuary's leader, who collected £500,000 to fund her and four other rescued lions.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The surgery was performed on last week 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," stated Mr Kertesz.
He thought the infection was caused by a trauma sustained more than a year ago, leading to germs creating toxins within the fang.
"The approach I follow is non-human oral health issues need to be treated in the most predictable, the least invasive and most secure manner," he explained.
The expert explained that as the lioness no longer required to catch prey, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Animal Rescue Facility
The rescue center said the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to remove a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and seal the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.
He also performed a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.
Briony Smith, manager at the facility, said the operation was a "total triumph."
She said the staff had spotted "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 initially, but now that the infectious materials are removed from her system, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.
The successful surgery marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.
