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A Wildlife Rescue Center

An adolescent lioness rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received critical oral operation to extract a severely infected canine tooth caused by an abscess.

The lioness was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March after a campaign by managing 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 performed on last week by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"When I examined Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the broken tooth was highly inflamed," stated the dentist.

He believed the infection was due to a trauma experienced over twelve months back, causing bacteria producing harmful substances inside the tooth.

"The approach I follow is non-human oral health issues should be addressed in the most predictable, the most conservative and most secure manner," he explained.

The expert explained that as Lira no longer required 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 remove a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and seal the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.

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

The curator, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the procedure was a "complete success."

She said the team had observed "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to assess "how serious the condition was."

"The lioness will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," added the curator.

This vital operation marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.