Rescued Ukrainian Lion Undergoes Essential Dental Operation
The Big Cat Sanctuary
A three-year-old female lion saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received vital oral operation to extract a severely infected canine tooth resulting from an abscess.
The lioness arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March after a fundraising effort by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who raised half a million pounds to fund her and four other rescued lions.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The surgery was performed on Friday by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see right away the damaged fang was highly inflamed," stated the dentist.
He thought the dental issue was due to a trauma experienced over twelve months back, causing germs creating harmful substances inside the tooth.
"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues should be addressed in the most predictable, the least invasive and safest way," he explained.
Mr Kertesz explained that as Lira no longer required to hunt for food, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The rescue center said the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to extract a accumulated infection from under the fang and seal the large wound 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 procedure was a "complete success."
She said the staff had spotted "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to determine "the extent of the problem."
"Lira will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will begin improving over the next few days," commented the curator.
The successful surgery marks a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her arrival from the conflict area.
