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The Big Cat Sanctuary

A three-year-old female lion saved from war-torn the war zone has received critical dental surgery to extract a severely infected canine tooth resulting from 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 half a million pounds to fund her and four other rescued lions.

The Rescue Center

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

"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the damaged fang was highly inflamed," stated the dentist.

He believed the infection was due to a trauma experienced more than a year ago, leading to bacteria creating toxins within the fang.

"My philosophy is animal oral health issues should be addressed in the safest, the most conservative and most secure manner," he explained.

Mr Kertesz explained that as the lioness no longer required to catch prey, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The rescue center said the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to extract a accumulated infection from under the fang and seal the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.

He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

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

She noted the team had spotted "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been difficult to determine "how serious the condition was."

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

The successful surgery represents a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.