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The Big Cat Sanctuary

An adolescent lioness saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone critical dental surgery to extract a severely infected fang caused by an abscess.

The lioness arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March after a fundraising effort by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised £500,000 to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Rescue Center

The procedure was carried out on Friday by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the broken tooth was highly inflamed," stated Mr Kertesz.

He thought the infection was due to a trauma experienced over twelve months back, causing germs producing toxins within the fang.

"The approach I follow is non-human dental problems need to be treated in the most predictable, the least invasive and safest way," he said.

Mr Kertesz clarified that as Lira did not need to catch prey, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The rescue center reported the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to remove a accumulated infection from under the fang and seal the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.

He also performed a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

The curator, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the operation was a "complete success."

She noted the staff had observed "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to determine "how serious the condition was."

"The lioness will be somewhat sore to initially, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will begin improving over the coming days," commented the curator.

This vital operation represents a significant step in Lira's recovery after her arrival from the conflict area.