Saved Ukrainian Lioness Undergoes Critical Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
A three-year-old female lion rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone vital oral operation to extract a badly decayed canine tooth resulting from an abscess.
Lira arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March following a fundraising effort by director the sanctuary's leader, who raised half a million pounds to fund her and four other rescued lions.
The Rescue Center
The procedure was performed 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 right away the broken tooth was highly inflamed," stated Mr Kertesz.
He thought the dental issue was caused by a trauma experienced more than a year ago, leading to bacteria creating toxins within the fang.
"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues need to be treated in the most predictable, the least invasive and most secure manner," he said.
The expert clarified that as Lira did not need to catch prey, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The sanctuary said the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and seal the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.
He also performed a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.
The curator, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the procedure was a "total triumph."
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."
"The lioness 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 coming days," commented Ms Smith.
This vital operation represents a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.
