Rescued from Ukraine Lion Receives Critical Surgery
The Big Cat Sanctuary
A three-year-old lioness saved from war-torn the war zone has undergone vital dental surgery to remove a badly decayed canine tooth caused by an abscess.
Lira was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 after a campaign by director the sanctuary's leader, who collected half a million pounds to support her and four other rescued lions.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The surgery was performed on last week by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.
"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see right away the broken tooth was severely infected," stated the dentist.
He thought the dental issue was due to a injury sustained more than a year ago, leading to bacteria producing harmful substances inside the tooth.
"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues should be addressed in the safest, the most conservative and most secure manner," he said.
Mr Kertesz clarified that as the lioness did not need to hunt for food, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Animal Rescue Facility
The rescue center reported the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to extract a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.
He also performed a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.
Briony Smith, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the procedure was a "total triumph."
She noted the staff had spotted "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to determine "the extent of the problem."
"Lira will be somewhat sore to initially, but now that the toxins are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the coming days," commented Ms Smith.
The successful surgery represents a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.