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The Big Cat Sanctuary

An adolescent female lion saved from conflict-ridden the war zone has undergone vital dental surgery to remove a severely infected canine tooth caused by an abscess.

The lioness was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March following a fundraising effort by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who raised half a million pounds to fund her and four other rescued lions.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The procedure was performed on Friday by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.

"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the damaged fang was severely infected," said Mr Kertesz.

He thought the infection was caused by a injury sustained over twelve months back, causing germs creating harmful substances within the fang.

"My philosophy is non-human dental problems need to be treated in the safest, the most conservative and most secure manner," he said.

The expert explained that as Lira did not need to hunt for food, removal was the most "logical and humane option."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The sanctuary reported the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to extract a accumulated infection from under the fang and close the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.

He also performed a dental procedure on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.

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

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

"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," commented Ms Smith.

The successful surgery marks a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.