Saved from Ukraine Lioness Receives Critical Dental Operation
The Big Cat Sanctuary
An adolescent female lion saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received vital dental surgery to extract a badly decayed fang resulting from an abscess.
Lira arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 after a fundraising effort by managing director Cam Whitnall, who collected ÂŁ500,000 to fund her and four other rescued lions.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The surgery was performed on Friday by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.
"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the damaged fang was highly inflamed," said the dentist.
He believed the infection was caused by a trauma sustained more than a year ago, causing germs creating toxins inside the tooth.
"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues need to be treated in the most predictable, the most conservative and most secure manner," he explained.
The expert clarified that as the lioness no longer required to hunt for food, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The sanctuary reported the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to remove a accumulated infection from under the fang and close the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.
He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.
Briony Smith, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the operation was a "total triumph."
She said the staff had observed "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to assess "how serious the condition was."
"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," added the curator.
This vital operation represents a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.
