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A Wildlife Rescue Center

An adolescent female lion saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone vital dental surgery to extract a severely infected canine tooth caused by an infection.

The lioness arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March after a fundraising effort by managing director Cam Whitnall, who collected £500,000 to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Rescue Center

The surgery was performed on Friday by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the damaged fang was severely infected," said the dentist.

He believed the infection was caused by a injury experienced over twelve months back, causing bacteria producing toxins inside the tooth.

"The approach I follow is animal dental problems need to be treated in the safest, the most conservative and most secure manner," he said.

Mr Kertesz clarified that as Lira no longer required to hunt for food, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The sanctuary reported the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to extract a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and seal 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 Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the operation was a "total triumph."

She said the staff had spotted "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to assess "how serious the condition was."

"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the infectious materials are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the coming days," commented Ms Smith.

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