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The Big Cat Sanctuary

A three-year-old female lion rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received critical oral operation to extract a severely infected fang caused by an abscess.

The lioness arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 following a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised £500,000 to fund her and four other rescued lions.

The Rescue Center

The surgery was carried out on Friday by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.

"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the broken tooth was severely infected," stated the dentist.

He believed the dental issue was caused by a trauma experienced over twelve months back, leading to germs producing toxins inside the tooth.

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

Mr Kertesz clarified that as Lira no longer required to catch prey, removal was the most "logical and humane option."

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The rescue center reported the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to extract a accumulated infection from under the fang and close the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.

He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

The curator, manager at the facility, said the procedure was a "complete success."

She said the team had observed "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "how serious the condition was."

"The lioness will be somewhat sore to initially, but now that the infectious materials are removed from her system, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.

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