Saved Ukrainian Lion Receives Critical Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent lioness saved from war-torn Ukraine has received critical dental surgery to remove a severely infected fang caused by an infection.
Lira was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 after a campaign by director the sanctuary's leader, who collected ÂŁ500,000 to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Rescue Center
The procedure was performed on last week by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the damaged fang was severely infected," stated Mr Kertesz.
He thought the infection was caused by a injury sustained over twelve months back, causing 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.
The expert clarified that as the lioness no longer required to hunt for food, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Animal Rescue Facility
The sanctuary said the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.
He also performed a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.
The curator, manager at the facility, declared the operation was a "total triumph."
She said the team had observed "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to assess "the extent of the problem."
"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.
The successful surgery marks a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.