🔗 Share this article

A Wildlife Rescue Center

A three-year-old lioness rescued from war-torn Ukraine has received critical dental surgery to remove a severely infected fang caused by an abscess.

Lira arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March after a fundraising effort by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who raised £500,000 to fund her and four other rescued lions.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

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 right away the damaged fang was severely infected," stated Mr Kertesz.

He thought the dental issue was caused by a injury experienced more than a year ago, causing germs creating toxins within the fang.

"The approach I follow is non-human dental problems should be addressed in the most predictable, the most conservative and safest way," he said.

The expert clarified that as Lira no longer required to catch prey, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The sanctuary said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to extract a pocket of pus from under the fang and seal the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.

He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

Briony Smith, manager at the facility, said the operation was a "complete success."

She said the staff had observed "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been difficult to assess "the extent of the problem."

"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," commented Ms Smith.

The successful surgery represents a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.