Rescued Ukrainian Lioness Receives Essential Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent lioness rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone vital dental surgery to remove a badly decayed canine tooth caused by an infection.
Lira was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March after a fundraising effort by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who collected half a million pounds to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.
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 right away the broken tooth was severely infected," said Mr Kertesz.
He thought the dental issue was caused by a injury experienced more than a year ago, leading to germs producing toxins inside the tooth.
"The approach I follow is non-human oral health issues need to be treated in the safest, the most conservative and safest way," he said.
Mr Kertesz clarified that as the lioness no longer required to catch prey, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The rescue center said the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to remove a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and seal the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.
He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.
Briony Smith, manager at the facility, said the operation was a "total triumph."
She noted the team had observed "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to assess "the extent of the problem."
"The lioness will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will begin improving over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.
This vital operation marks a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.
