Rescued from Ukraine Lioness Receives Critical Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent lioness rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received critical dental surgery to remove a badly decayed canine tooth caused by an infection.
The lioness arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 after a fundraising effort by director Cam Whitnall, who collected half a million pounds to support her and four other rescued lions.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The procedure was performed on last week by 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 Mr Kertesz.
He thought the dental issue was caused by a trauma experienced more than a year ago, leading to germs producing toxins inside the tooth.
"The approach I follow is animal dental problems need to be treated in the safest, the most conservative and most secure manner," he explained.
The expert clarified that as the lioness did not need to hunt for food, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Animal Rescue Facility
The rescue center reported the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to extract a pocket of pus from under the fang and close the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.
He also performed a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.
The curator, curator at the facility, declared the procedure was a "complete success."
She said the team had spotted "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "the extent of the problem."
"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will begin improving over the coming days," commented the curator.
This vital operation marks a significant step in Lira's recovery after her arrival from the conflict area.