🔗 Share this article Saved from Ukraine Lioness Undergoes Essential Dental Operation The Big Cat Sanctuary Lira the lioness from The Big Cat Sanctuary undergoing critical dental surgery to remove a severely infected lower right canine tooth A three-year-old female lion rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received critical dental surgery to remove a badly decayed fang resulting from an abscess. Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 after a campaign by director the sanctuary's leader, who raised £500,000 to fund her and four other rescued lions. The Rescue Center Amani and Lira are two of the big cats from Ukraine that arrived in March The procedure was performed 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," said Mr Kertesz. He believed the dental issue was due to a trauma experienced over twelve months back, causing germs creating toxins inside the tooth. "My philosophy is non-human dental problems should be addressed in the most predictable, the least invasive and safest way," he explained. Mr Kertesz clarified that as the lioness did not need to hunt for food, extraction was the most "logical and humane option." The Big Cat Sanctuary Lira's extracted lower right canine tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long The sanctuary reported the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to remove a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures. He also performed a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected. The curator, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the procedure was a "total triumph." She said the staff had observed "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to determine "how serious the condition was." "The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will begin improving over the coming days," commented Ms Smith. The successful surgery represents a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.