A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent female lion saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone vital dental surgery to extract a severely infected fang resulting from an infection.
The lioness was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March after a fundraising effort by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised £500,000 to support her and four other rescued lions.
The Rescue Center
The procedure 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 broken tooth was severely infected," stated the dentist.
He believed the infection was caused by a trauma experienced more than a year ago, leading to germs producing toxins inside the tooth.
"The approach I follow is non-human oral health issues should be addressed in the safest, the least invasive and most secure manner," 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 rescue center reported the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to remove a pocket of pus from under the fang and seal the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.
He also performed a dental procedure on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.
The curator, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the operation was a "total triumph."
She noted the staff had spotted "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 toxins are removed from her system, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," added the curator.
The successful surgery represents a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.
