Rescued Ukrainian Lion Undergoes Critical Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent lioness rescued from conflict-ridden the war zone has received critical dental surgery to extract a badly decayed fang caused by an abscess.
The lioness was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March after a campaign by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who collected half a million pounds to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.
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 right away the damaged fang was severely infected," said the dentist.
He thought the infection was caused by a trauma sustained over twelve months back, leading to bacteria creating toxins within the fang.
"The approach I follow is animal dental problems need to be treated in the most predictable, the least invasive and safest way," he said.
The expert explained that as the lioness did not need to hunt for food, removal was the most "logical and humane option."
The Animal Rescue Facility
The sanctuary said the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to remove a pocket of pus from under the fang and close the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.
He also performed a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.
Briony Smith, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the operation was a "total triumph."
She said the staff had observed "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been difficult to determine "how serious the condition was."
"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the next few days," commented the curator.
The successful surgery represents a significant step in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.
