Rescued from Ukraine Lion Undergoes Critical Dental Operation
A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent lioness saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received critical dental surgery to extract a badly decayed fang caused by an infection.
Lira was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March after a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who collected £500,000 to support her and four other rescued lions.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The procedure was performed 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 right away the broken tooth was highly inflamed," said the dentist.
He thought the infection was caused by a trauma experienced over twelve months back, leading to bacteria producing toxins inside the tooth.
"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues need to be treated in the safest, the least invasive and most secure manner," he explained.
The expert explained that as Lira no longer required to catch prey, removal was the most "logical and humane option."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The rescue center said the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to extract a accumulated infection from under the fang and close the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.
He also performed a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.
The curator, curator at the facility, said the procedure was a "complete success."
She said the staff had observed "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to assess "the extent of the problem."
"Lira will be somewhat sore to initially, 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.
The successful surgery marks a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.
