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The Big Cat Sanctuary

A three-year-old lioness saved from war-torn Ukraine has undergone vital dental surgery to remove a badly decayed canine tooth resulting from an abscess.

Lira was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 following a campaign by director the sanctuary's leader, who raised half a million pounds to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Rescue Center

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

"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the broken tooth was highly inflamed," said the dentist.

He thought the infection was caused by a injury experienced over twelve months back, causing germs producing harmful substances inside the tooth.

"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues need to be treated in the safest, the most conservative and safest way," he said.

The expert explained that as Lira did not need to catch prey, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The rescue center said the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to remove a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and close the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.

He also performed a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

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

She noted the staff had observed "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to determine "the extent of the problem."

"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the coming days," commented the curator.

The successful surgery represents a significant step in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.