Rescued Ukrainian Lion Undergoes Critical Surgery
The Big Cat Sanctuary
An adolescent female lion saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received vital dental surgery to extract a severely infected fang resulting from an infection.
The lioness arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 following a fundraising effort by managing director Cam Whitnall, who collected £500,000 to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The surgery was performed on last week by dentist an experienced animal dentist, 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," said Mr Kertesz.
He thought the infection was caused by a trauma sustained over twelve months back, leading to germs creating 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.
Mr Kertesz clarified that as the lioness no longer required to hunt for food, removal was the most "logical and humane option."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The sanctuary reported the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.
He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.
Briony Smith, manager at the facility, declared the operation was a "total triumph."
She noted the team had spotted "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been difficult to determine "the extent of the problem."
"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 coming days," commented Ms Smith.
The successful surgery marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.