Saved Ukrainian Lioness Undergoes Essential Surgery
A Wildlife Rescue Center
A three-year-old female lion saved from conflict-ridden the war zone has undergone vital dental surgery to remove a badly decayed canine tooth resulting from an abscess.
Lira was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March following a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who collected £500,000 to support her and four other rescued lions.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The surgery was performed on last week by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.
"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see right away the damaged fang was highly inflamed," stated Mr Kertesz.
He believed the infection was caused by a trauma experienced more than a year ago, leading to bacteria producing harmful substances within the fang.
"The approach I follow is non-human 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 no longer required to catch prey, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Animal Rescue Facility
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 close the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.
He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.
The curator, manager at the facility, declared the procedure was a "complete success."
She said the staff had observed "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "the extent of the problem."
"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, 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 the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.
