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The Big Cat Sanctuary

An adolescent lioness rescued from war-torn Ukraine has received critical dental surgery to remove a severely infected canine tooth resulting from an infection.

The lioness was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 after a fundraising effort by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised £500,000 to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The procedure was performed on last week by 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 damaged fang was highly inflamed," said Mr Kertesz.

He thought the infection was caused by a injury experienced more than a year ago, causing germs creating toxins within the fang.

"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues should be addressed in the safest, the least invasive and most secure manner," he said.

Mr Kertesz explained that as Lira did not need to hunt for food, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The sanctuary reported the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to extract a pocket of pus from under the fang and close the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.

He also performed a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.

Briony Smith, manager at the facility, said the procedure was a "complete success."

She noted the team had spotted "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to assess "how serious the condition was."

"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will begin improving over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.

This vital operation marks a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her arrival from the conflict area.