Saved Ukrainian Lion Receives Critical Dental Operation
The Big Cat Sanctuary
A three-year-old lioness rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone vital oral operation to extract a severely infected fang resulting from an infection.
The lioness arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 following a fundraising effort by director Cam Whitnall, who collected £500,000 to support her and four other rescued lions.
The Rescue Center
The surgery was performed on Friday by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.
"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the broken tooth was severely infected," said the dentist.
He thought the infection was due to a injury sustained over twelve months back, leading to bacteria creating harmful substances within the fang.
"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues need to be treated in the most predictable, the most conservative and most secure manner," he explained.
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 reported the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to extract 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 corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.
Briony Smith, curator at the facility, declared the procedure was a "total triumph."
She noted the team had observed "a minor swelling 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 out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," commented the curator.
The successful surgery represents a significant step in Lira's recovery after her arrival from the conflict area.
