🔗 Share this article

The Big Cat Sanctuary

A three-year-old lioness rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received critical oral operation to remove a severely infected canine tooth caused by an abscess.

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

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The procedure was carried out on last week by veterinary dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the broken tooth was severely infected," stated Mr Kertesz.

He believed the dental issue was caused by a injury sustained over twelve months back, leading to bacteria creating harmful substances inside the tooth.

"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues need to be treated in the most predictable, the most conservative and safest way," he said.

The expert explained that as the lioness did not need to hunt for food, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The sanctuary reported the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.

He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.

Briony Smith, curator at the facility, declared the operation was a "total triumph."

She noted the team had spotted "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to assess "how serious the condition was."

"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the toxins are removed from her system, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," commented the curator.

This vital operation marks a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.