Saved from Ukraine Lioness Receives Essential Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent lioness saved from war-torn the war zone has undergone critical dental surgery to remove a severely infected canine tooth caused by an infection.
The lioness arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 after a campaign by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who collected £500,000 to fund her and four other rescued lions.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The procedure was carried out on Friday by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the damaged fang was highly inflamed," stated Mr Kertesz.
He thought the infection was caused by a trauma experienced over twelve months back, leading to bacteria producing harmful substances within the fang.
"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues should be addressed in the safest, the most conservative and safest way," he explained.
The expert clarified that as Lira no longer required to hunt for food, removal was the most "logical and humane option."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The sanctuary said the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to remove a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and seal the large wound 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 Big Cat Sanctuary, said the operation was a "complete success."
She noted the team had spotted "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to assess "how serious the condition was."
"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.
This vital operation marks a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.