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A Wildlife Rescue Center

A three-year-old lioness rescued from conflict-ridden 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 14 March after a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised half a million pounds to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Rescue Center

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

"When I examined Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see right away the broken tooth was highly inflamed," stated the dentist.

He thought the dental issue was due to a trauma experienced more than a year ago, leading to germs producing harmful substances within the fang.

"My philosophy is non-human dental problems need to be treated in the most predictable, the most conservative and most secure manner," he said.

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

The Animal Rescue Facility

The sanctuary said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.

He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

Briony Smith, curator at the facility, declared the operation was a "complete success."

She said the team had observed "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to assess "the extent of the problem."

"The lioness will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," commented the curator.

This vital operation marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.