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The Big Cat Sanctuary

An adolescent lioness rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received critical oral operation to remove a severely infected canine tooth resulting from an infection.

The lioness was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March following a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised £500,000 to support her and four other rescued lions.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The procedure was performed on last week by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.

"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the damaged fang was severely infected," stated Mr Kertesz.

He believed the dental issue was caused by a injury experienced over twelve months back, leading to bacteria producing harmful substances within the fang.

"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues need to be treated in the most predictable, the least invasive and most secure manner," he explained.

Mr Kertesz clarified that as the lioness no longer required to hunt for food, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The rescue center reported the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from under the fang and seal the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.

He also performed a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.

Briony Smith, manager at the facility, declared the procedure was a "total triumph."

She said the staff had spotted "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to assess "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 start to feel much better over the next few days," commented the curator.

The successful surgery marks a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her arrival from the conflict area.