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The Big Cat Sanctuary

A three-year-old lioness saved from war-torn the war zone has received critical dental surgery to remove a severely infected fang resulting from an abscess.

Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March following a campaign by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who raised £500,000 to fund her and four other rescued lions.

The Rescue Center

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

"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the broken tooth was highly inflamed," stated the dentist.

He believed the infection was caused by a injury experienced more than a year ago, causing bacteria producing harmful substances inside the tooth.

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

The expert clarified that as the lioness did not need to catch prey, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The sanctuary said the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from under the fang and close 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, manager at the facility, declared the operation was a "total triumph."

She noted the team had spotted "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible 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 coming days," added the curator.

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