Saved from Ukraine Lioness Receives Critical Surgery
The Big Cat Sanctuary
A three-year-old female lion rescued from war-torn the war zone has received vital dental surgery to remove a severely infected canine tooth resulting from an abscess.
The lioness was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March following a campaign by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who collected £500,000 to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The procedure was carried out on Friday by veterinary dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the damaged fang was highly inflamed," said Mr Kertesz.
He believed the infection was caused by a injury sustained more than a year ago, leading to germs producing toxins within the fang.
"The approach I follow is animal dental problems need to be treated in the most predictable, the least invasive and most secure manner," he explained.
The expert explained that as Lira no longer required to catch prey, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The sanctuary reported the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to remove a pocket of pus from under the fang and seal the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.
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, declared the operation was a "total triumph."
She said the team had observed "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to assess "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," added the curator.
The successful surgery marks a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.
