Rescued from Ukraine Lioness Receives Critical Dental Operation
The Big Cat Sanctuary
An adolescent lioness rescued from war-torn the war zone has received critical dental surgery to remove a severely infected fang resulting from an abscess.
Lira was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 following a fundraising effort by director the sanctuary's leader, who raised half a million pounds to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Rescue Center
The surgery was carried out on last week by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the broken tooth was highly inflamed," said the dentist.
He believed the dental issue was due to a trauma experienced over twelve months back, causing bacteria producing toxins within the fang.
"My philosophy is animal oral health issues need to be treated in the most predictable, the least invasive and most secure manner," he explained.
Mr Kertesz explained that as the lioness did not need to catch prey, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The sanctuary said the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to remove a pocket of pus from under the fang and close the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.
He also performed a dental procedure on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.
Briony Smith, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the operation was a "complete success."
She said the team had spotted "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to assess "the extent of the problem."
"The lioness will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," added Ms Smith.
The successful surgery marks a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.
