Saved from Ukraine Lion Receives Essential Surgery
The Big Cat Sanctuary
A three-year-old lioness rescued from conflict-ridden the war zone has received critical dental surgery to remove a severely infected canine tooth caused by an infection.
Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 following a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised £500,000 to fund her and four other rescued lions.
The Rescue Center
The surgery was performed on last week by veterinary dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the damaged fang was highly inflamed," stated Mr Kertesz.
He thought the infection was due to a trauma experienced more than a year ago, leading to bacteria creating toxins inside the tooth.
"My philosophy is animal oral health issues need to be treated in the safest, the least invasive and most secure manner," he said.
Mr Kertesz clarified that as the lioness no longer required to hunt for food, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The sanctuary reported the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and seal the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.
He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.
Briony Smith, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the operation was a "complete success."
She said the staff had observed "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to determine "the extent of the problem."
"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will begin improving over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.
The successful surgery represents a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.
