Rescued from Ukraine Lioness Receives Essential Surgery
The Big Cat Sanctuary
An adolescent female lion saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone vital dental surgery to extract a severely infected canine tooth resulting from an infection.
The lioness was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 following a fundraising effort by director the sanctuary's leader, who collected half a million pounds to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The procedure was carried out on last week by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.
"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see right away the broken tooth was severely infected," stated Mr Kertesz.
He believed the infection was due to a trauma sustained over twelve months back, causing germs producing harmful substances within the fang.
"My philosophy is animal dental problems need to be treated in the most predictable, the most conservative and safest way," he said.
The expert clarified that as Lira no longer required to catch prey, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The rescue center reported the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to remove a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and close the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.
He also performed a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.
The curator, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the procedure was a "complete success."
She said the staff had spotted "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to assess "the extent of the problem."
"Lira will be somewhat sore to initially, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will begin improving over the next few days," commented the curator.
This vital operation represents a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.
