🔗 Share this article Rescued from Ukraine Lion Receives Essential Dental Operation The Big Cat Sanctuary A lioness named Lira receiving essential dental care to extract a badly infected tooth A three-year-old female lion saved from conflict-ridden the war zone has received vital dental surgery to remove a severely infected canine tooth resulting from an abscess. The lioness arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March after a campaign by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who raised £500,000 to fund her and four other rescued lions. The Big Cat Sanctuary Two lions, Amani and Lira, were among the animals rescued from Ukraine and brought to the sanctuary The surgery was carried out on Friday by veterinary dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats. "When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the damaged fang was severely infected," stated the dentist. He believed the dental issue was due to a injury sustained over twelve months back, leading to bacteria producing harmful substances within the fang. "The approach I follow is animal dental problems need to be treated in the safest, the least invasive and most secure manner," he explained. The expert explained that as Lira did not need to catch prey, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution." The Animal Rescue Facility Lira's extracted lower right canine tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long The rescue center reported the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth 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. The curator, manager at the facility, declared the procedure was a "total triumph." She said the team had spotted "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been difficult to assess "how serious the condition was." "The lioness will be somewhat sore to initially, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will begin improving over the coming days," commented Ms Smith. The successful surgery marks a significant step in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.