Rescued Ukrainian Lioness Receives Essential Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent female lion rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received vital oral operation to extract a severely infected fang resulting from an infection.
Lira was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March after a campaign by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who raised half a million pounds to support her and four other rescued lions.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The surgery 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 damaged fang was severely infected," stated Mr Kertesz.
He thought the infection was caused by a injury sustained more than a year ago, leading to germs creating toxins inside the tooth.
"The approach I follow is non-human dental problems need to be treated in the safest, the most conservative and safest way," he said.
The expert clarified that as the lioness did not need to hunt for food, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The sanctuary said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from under the fang and close the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.
He also performed a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.
The curator, curator at the facility, declared the procedure was a "complete success."
She noted the team had spotted "a small lump on Lira's jawline" 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 infectious materials are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.
This vital operation marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.
