Rescued from Ukraine Lion Receives Critical Surgery
The Big Cat Sanctuary
An adolescent female lion saved from conflict-ridden the war zone has received critical 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 following a campaign by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who raised £500,000 to fund her and four other rescued lions.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The surgery was carried out on last week by dentist an experienced animal dentist, 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," stated Mr Kertesz.
He believed the infection was due to a trauma sustained over twelve months back, leading to bacteria producing toxins inside the tooth.
"My philosophy is non-human dental problems need to be treated in the most predictable, the least invasive and safest way," he said.
The expert clarified that as the lioness no longer required to catch prey, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."
The Animal Rescue Facility
The sanctuary reported the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to remove a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.
He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.
The curator, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the procedure was a "complete success."
She noted the team had observed "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to determine "how serious the condition was."
"Lira will be somewhat sore 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 the curator.
The successful surgery marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.
