🔗 Share this article

A Wildlife Rescue Center

An adolescent lioness saved from war-torn the war zone has received critical oral operation to remove a badly decayed canine tooth caused by an abscess.

The lioness was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 after a campaign by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who collected half a million pounds to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The surgery was performed on last week by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"When I examined Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the broken tooth was highly inflamed," stated Mr Kertesz.

He believed the dental issue was due to a trauma sustained over twelve months back, leading to bacteria producing harmful substances within the fang.

"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 no longer required to hunt for food, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The rescue center reported the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to remove a accumulated infection from under the fang and close the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.

He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.

The curator, curator at the facility, declared the procedure was a "total triumph."

She noted the team had observed "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to assess "how serious the condition was."

"The lioness will be somewhat sore to initially, but now that the infectious materials are removed from her system, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," added the curator.

The successful surgery represents a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.