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The Big Cat Sanctuary

An adolescent lioness saved from war-torn the war zone has received vital oral operation to remove a severely infected canine tooth resulting from an infection.

The lioness arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 after a fundraising effort by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who raised half a million pounds to support her and four other rescued lions.

The Rescue Center

The surgery was carried out on last week by dentist Peter Kertesz, 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 caused by a injury experienced more than a year ago, leading to bacteria creating toxins within the fang.

"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues need to be treated in the safest, the least invasive and most secure manner," he explained.

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

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The sanctuary said the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to remove a pocket of pus from under the fang and close the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.

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

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

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

"The lioness will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will begin improving over the next few days," commented the curator.

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