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The Big Cat Sanctuary

A three-year-old lioness saved from war-torn Ukraine has undergone critical oral operation to remove a severely infected fang caused by an infection.

Lira was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 after a fundraising effort by director the sanctuary's leader, who raised £500,000 to support her and four other rescued lions.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The surgery was carried out on last week by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the broken tooth was severely infected," stated the dentist.

He thought the dental issue was due to a trauma experienced more than a year ago, causing germs producing harmful substances inside the tooth.

"My philosophy is animal oral health issues need to be treated in the safest, the least invasive and safest way," he explained.

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

The Animal Rescue Facility

The sanctuary said the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to extract a accumulated infection from under the fang and seal the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.

He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

Briony Smith, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the operation was a "total triumph."

She noted the team had observed "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to assess "how serious the condition was."

"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," added the curator.

The successful surgery marks a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.