Saved from Ukraine Lion Undergoes Critical Surgery
The Big Cat Sanctuary
An adolescent lioness saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone vital oral operation to extract a badly decayed canine tooth resulting from an abscess.
Lira was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 following a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who collected £500,000 to fund 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 the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the broken tooth was highly inflamed," said the dentist.
He believed the infection was due to a injury sustained over twelve months back, leading to bacteria producing harmful substances inside the tooth.
"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues need to be treated in the most predictable, the most conservative and most secure manner," he said.
The expert explained that as Lira no longer required to hunt for food, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The rescue center reported 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 additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.
The curator, curator 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 impossible to assess "the extent of the problem."
"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the infectious materials are removed from her system, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," commented Ms Smith.
The successful surgery represents a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.
