Saved from Ukraine Lion Receives Essential Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent lioness saved from conflict-ridden the war zone has undergone critical dental surgery to remove a badly decayed fang caused by an infection.
Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March following a fundraising effort by director the sanctuary's leader, who raised £500,000 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.
"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the broken tooth was highly inflamed," stated Mr Kertesz.
He thought the dental issue was caused by a trauma experienced more than a year ago, causing germs creating toxins within the fang.
"My philosophy is non-human dental problems need to be treated in the most predictable, the most conservative and safest way," he explained.
The expert clarified that as the lioness no longer required to hunt for food, removal was the most "logical and humane option."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The rescue center said the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from under the fang and close the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.
He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was discovered to have a similar issue.
The curator, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the procedure was a "total triumph."
She noted the team had spotted "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to assess "how serious the condition was."
"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will begin improving over the next few days," added the curator.
This vital operation marks a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.
