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A Wildlife Rescue Center

A three-year-old lioness rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone critical dental surgery to remove a badly decayed fang resulting from an infection.

Lira was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 following a fundraising effort by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised half a million pounds to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Rescue Center

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

"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 infection was caused by a injury experienced over twelve months back, leading to germs creating toxins inside the tooth.

"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues should be addressed in the safest, the most conservative and most secure manner," he said.

Mr Kertesz clarified that as the lioness did not need to catch prey, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The sanctuary reported the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to extract a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and seal the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.

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 facility, declared the operation was a "complete success."

She noted the staff had spotted "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been difficult to assess "how serious the condition was."

"Lira will be somewhat sore to initially, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.

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