Rescued Ukrainian Lioness Receives Critical Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent lioness rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received critical oral operation to extract a badly decayed fang resulting from an abscess.
Lira was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 after a fundraising effort by managing director Cam Whitnall, who collected half a million pounds to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The procedure was carried out 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 right away the damaged fang was highly inflamed," said the dentist.
He believed the dental issue was due to a trauma sustained more than a year ago, leading to bacteria producing toxins within the fang.
"The approach I follow is animal dental problems need to be treated in the safest, the most conservative and safest way," he explained.
Mr Kertesz explained that as the lioness no longer required to hunt for food, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The sanctuary reported the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz 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 corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.
Briony Smith, manager at the facility, said the procedure was a "total triumph."
She said the staff had spotted "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to determine "the extent of the problem."
"Lira will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will begin improving over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.
This vital operation marks a significant step in Lira's recovery after her arrival from the conflict area.
