Saved from Ukraine Lioness Receives Critical Surgery
A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent lioness rescued from war-torn Ukraine has received vital dental surgery to extract a badly decayed fang resulting from 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 £500,000 to fund her and four other rescued lions.
The Rescue Center
The procedure was performed on last week by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the damaged fang was severely infected," stated Mr Kertesz.
He believed the infection was caused by a injury sustained more than a year ago, leading to bacteria producing toxins inside the tooth.
"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues need to be treated in the safest, the least invasive and safest way," he explained.
The expert clarified that as the lioness no longer required to hunt for food, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The rescue center said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to remove a pocket of pus from under the fang and seal the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.
He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.
The curator, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the operation was a "complete success."
She said the staff had observed "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to determine "the extent of the problem."
"Lira will be somewhat sore to initially, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," commented the curator.
This vital operation represents a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.
