Rescued from Ukraine Lion Receives Critical Dental Operation
The Big Cat Sanctuary
An adolescent female lion rescued from war-torn Ukraine has undergone vital oral operation to extract a severely infected fang caused by an abscess.
Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March following a fundraising effort by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised £500,000 to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The procedure was performed on Friday by veterinary dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the broken tooth was highly inflamed," stated the dentist.
He believed the infection was due to a injury sustained more than a year ago, leading to germs creating toxins inside the tooth.
"The approach I follow is non-human oral health issues should be addressed in the most predictable, the least invasive and most secure manner," he said.
Mr Kertesz clarified that as Lira did not need to hunt for food, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The rescue center said the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to remove a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and close the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.
He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.
The curator, manager at the facility, declared the operation was a "total triumph."
She noted the staff had observed "a minor swelling 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 infectious materials are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," added the curator.
This vital operation marks a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.
