Saved from Ukraine Lion Undergoes Critical Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent lioness rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received critical dental surgery to extract a badly decayed canine tooth caused by an abscess.
Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 after a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who collected half a million pounds to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The surgery was carried out on Friday by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.
"When I examined Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the damaged fang was highly inflamed," said the dentist.
He believed the infection was due to a injury experienced over twelve months back, causing germs producing toxins inside the tooth.
"My philosophy is non-human dental problems should be addressed in the most predictable, the most conservative and most secure manner," he explained.
The expert explained that as the lioness did not need to catch prey, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Animal Rescue Facility
The rescue center said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to remove a pocket of pus from under the fang and close the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.
He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was discovered to have a similar issue.
The curator, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the procedure was a "complete success."
She said 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 infectious materials are removed from her system, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.
The successful surgery marks a significant step in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.
