Rescued from Ukraine Lion Receives Essential Dental Operation
The Big Cat Sanctuary
A three-year-old lioness saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone vital dental surgery to extract a severely infected fang caused by an infection.
The lioness arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March following a fundraising effort by director Cam Whitnall, who collected £500,000 to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The surgery was carried out on Friday by veterinary dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the damaged fang was highly inflamed," stated Mr Kertesz.
He believed the infection was caused by a trauma sustained over twelve months back, leading to bacteria producing harmful substances within the fang.
"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues should be addressed in the most predictable, the least invasive and safest way," he explained.
The expert explained that as Lira no longer required to catch prey, removal was the most "logical and humane option."
The Animal Rescue Facility
The rescue center said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to remove a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and seal the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.
He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.
The curator, manager at the facility, said the operation was a "complete success."
She noted the team had spotted "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to determine "how serious the condition was."
"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to initially, 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 represents a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.
