A stray dog in India was in urgent need of veterinary attention after being discovered with a shockingly large mass around its skull. The male dog was rescued by UK animal welfare charity, (WVS), when he was spotted by one of the team in the town of Mettupalayam in the State of Tamil Nadu…
The dog, estimated to be around seven years old, was brought to WVS’s veterinary facility for immediate treatment. The team affectionally named him Biggie due to his big heart which revealed itself to be even more enormous than his sizable head.
Straight away, Biggie was put on fluids and given pain medication to make him more comfortable. The vets took X-rays of his head which revealed that, remarkably, the skull had not been affected by the growing mass.
After just two days at the clinic, Biggie was taken into theatre to surgically remove the mass which wrapped around a large section of his skull. Once removed, the mass weighed around 2kg which accounted for over one tenth of Biggie’s body weight!
A histopathology report showed that the mass was a malignant tumour called a fibrosarcoma. Left untreated, the mass would have been fatal as Biggie was unable to lift his head or seek out food.
Following the surgery to remove the mass, Biggie also required two further reconstructive surgeries, compression bandaging, and drainage of the wound. He is now recovering very well and will remain at the WVS India centre until he is adopted.
“We treat many extreme cases at this centre, but Biggie’s condition is certainly not one you see every day.”
Dr Shreya Bahl, Resident Vet at WVS India, provided treatment for Biggie and explains, “We were incredibly relieved that the mass has not impacted the skull and could be successfully removed in surgery.
“Biggie has been the most affectionate dog I have ever met, and we are thrilled that he can now start a new life as a much happier and healthier dog. He is the star of our centre and we’re spoiling him with lots of love and attention, just as he deserves!”
The Ooty centre, which opened in 2010, is one of five WVS International Training Centres located around the world. Last year, the charity treated 62,000 animals – over 9,000 animals at this centre alone. At each of the centres, free veterinary services are provided for animals of the community, and veterinary professionals receive training as part of the charity’s core mission to raise the standard of care globally.