Saved from Ukraine Lioness Receives Critical Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
A three-year-old female lion saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone critical oral operation to extract a badly decayed canine tooth caused by an infection.
Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March after a campaign by director the sanctuary's leader, who collected half a million pounds to support her and four other rescued lions.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The surgery was carried out on Friday by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.
"When I examined Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see right away the damaged fang was highly inflamed," stated Mr Kertesz.
He thought the dental issue was caused by a trauma sustained more than a year ago, leading to bacteria producing harmful substances inside the tooth.
"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues need to be treated in the most predictable, the least invasive and safest way," he said.
The expert clarified that as Lira did not need to hunt for food, removal 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 the dentist having to remove a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and seal the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.
He also performed a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.
Briony Smith, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the operation was a "complete success."
She noted the team had spotted "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to determine "the extent of the problem."
"The lioness will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," added Ms Smith.
This vital operation represents a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.
