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A Wildlife Rescue Center

A three-year-old lioness saved from war-torn the war zone has undergone critical dental surgery to extract a badly decayed canine tooth resulting from an abscess.

The lioness was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 following 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 Big Cat Sanctuary

The surgery was carried out on last week by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.

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

He thought the dental issue was due to a trauma sustained more than a year ago, causing bacteria creating toxins within the fang.

"The approach I follow is non-human dental problems should be addressed in the most predictable, the least invasive and most secure manner," he explained.

Mr Kertesz clarified that as Lira did not need to hunt for food, removal was the most "logical and humane option."

The Big Cat Sanctuary

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

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

The curator, curator at the facility, said the operation was a "total triumph."

She noted the staff had spotted "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been difficult to determine "the extent of the problem."

"The lioness will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the infectious materials are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the next few days," added the curator.

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