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The Big Cat Sanctuary

An adolescent lioness saved from war-torn the war zone has received vital dental surgery to extract a badly decayed canine tooth resulting from an abscess.

The lioness was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March after a fundraising effort by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised £500,000 to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The surgery was carried out on Friday by veterinary dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.

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

He believed the dental issue was caused by a injury experienced more than a year ago, causing germs creating toxins within the fang.

"My philosophy is animal dental problems should be addressed in the safest, the most conservative and safest way," he explained.

Mr Kertesz clarified that as the lioness 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 accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and seal the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.

He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.

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

She said the team had observed "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to determine "the extent of the problem."

"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will begin improving over the next few days," commented the curator.

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