Rescued Ukrainian Lion Undergoes Critical Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent female lion rescued from conflict-ridden the war zone has undergone critical dental surgery to extract a severely infected fang caused by an infection.
The lioness arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 after a campaign by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who raised half a million pounds to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The procedure was carried out on Friday by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.
"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the broken tooth was highly inflamed," said Mr Kertesz.
He believed the infection was caused by a trauma experienced over twelve months back, leading to bacteria creating harmful substances within the fang.
"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues should be addressed in the safest, the least invasive and most secure manner," he said.
Mr Kertesz clarified that as Lira did not need to hunt for food, removal was the most "logical and humane option."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The sanctuary reported the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and close the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.
He also performed a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.
Briony Smith, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the procedure was a "total triumph."
She said the team had spotted "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "how serious the condition was."
"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are removed from her system, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," commented the curator.
The successful surgery represents a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.