Saved from Ukraine Lion Receives Critical Surgery
The Big Cat Sanctuary
A three-year-old lioness rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received critical oral operation to extract a severely infected canine tooth caused by an abscess.
The lioness arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March after a campaign by director the sanctuary's leader, who collected half a million pounds to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The surgery was performed on Friday 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 severely infected," said the dentist.
He believed the infection was due to a injury sustained more than a year ago, leading to germs producing toxins within the fang.
"The approach I follow is non-human oral health issues need to be treated in the safest, the most conservative and safest way," he explained.
The expert explained that as Lira no longer required to hunt for food, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Animal Rescue Facility
The sanctuary reported the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.
He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.
Briony Smith, curator at the facility, declared the operation was a "complete success."
She said the team had spotted "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to determine "the extent of the problem."
"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the infectious materials are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the coming days," commented Ms Smith.
This vital operation marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.
