A DORSET charity has saved the life of a stray dog suffering with a 2kg brain tumour – despite being more than 5,000 miles away.

The poorly canine was spotted with a large mass on his head in the town of Mettupalayam, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, by a member of the team at the Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS), which is based in Wimborne.

WVS vets in the south Asian town checked over the dog, thought to be around seven years old, who affectionally named him Biggie, due to his big heart, which revealed itself to be even more enormous than his sizable head.

The vets immediately put Biggie on fluids and gave him pain medication to make him more comfortable, before X-rays taken of his head which revealed, remarkably, his skull had not been affected by the growing mass.

The mass on Biggie’s head weighed some 2kg. Picture: WVS

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, more than one tenth of Biggie’s body weight.

A histopathology report showed the mass was a malignant tumour called a fibrosarcoma which, of left untreated, 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.

However, he is now recovering well and will remain at the WVS India centre until he is adopted.

Dr Shreya Bahl, resident vet at WVS India, with Biggie after his operation. Picture: WVS

“We treat many extreme cases at this centre, but Biggie’s condition is certainly not one you see every day,” said Dr Shreya Bahl, resident vet at WVS India.

“We were incredibly relieved that the mass had not impacted the skull and could be successfully removed in surgery.”

And Dr Bahl said Biggie had lived up to his name in character, as well as in spirit.

“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,” she said.

“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 around the world.

Last year, the charity treated 62,000 animals – more than 9,000 animals at this centre alone.

Each centres offers free veterinary services 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.

For more information on the charity, log on to wvs.org.uk.

Biggie is now a favourite among staff at the WVS centre in India. Picture: WVS