Rescued from Ukraine Lion Receives Essential Dental Operation
The Big Cat Sanctuary
A three-year-old lioness rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received vital dental surgery to extract a severely infected fang caused by an infection.
The lioness arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 after a fundraising effort by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who collected half a million pounds to fund her and four other rescued lions.
The Rescue Center
The surgery was carried out on last week by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"When I examined Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the damaged fang was highly inflamed," stated the dentist.
He thought the infection was caused by a injury experienced over twelve months back, causing germs producing toxins within the fang.
"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues need to be treated in the most predictable, the most conservative and safest way," he explained.
The expert clarified that as the lioness did not need to catch prey, removal was the most "logical and humane option."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The sanctuary said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to remove a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and seal the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.
He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was discovered to have a similar issue.
The curator, curator at the facility, said the operation was a "total triumph."
She noted the team had spotted "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to determine "how serious the condition was."
"Lira will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will begin improving over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.
The successful surgery represents a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her arrival from the conflict area.
