A nine-year-old black male Labrador, attached to the security team of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underwent dental surgery Friday at the state-run Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) of Ludhiana, where it was admitted in the morning. Dr Arun Anand, associate professor, veterinary surgery department, GADVASU, said, “The intra oral tumor was invading its tooth so we had to extract it. The dog underwent intra oral tumor resection and tooth extraction. Had tumor spread, it would have created problems in eating and might damage other teeth too.”

The dog was accompanied by paramilitary forces team and dog’s personal vet who refused to speak to the media or divulge any details citing ‘security concerns’.

“As per the team that accompanied the dog, it is one of the most prized dogs in PM’s security team. It has won excellence in sniffing award from Ministry of Home Affairs and Rs 15 lakh cash prize which are being spent on his maintenance and training,” said a source from GADVASU. According to sources, the Labrador has been a part of the PM’s security detail for almost six years now.

Seeing the media thronging GADVASU hospital to capture the dog, the team soon left the campus after the dog was discharged by the doctors.

However, as per hospital rules for other visitors, fee of Rs 800 for surgery was taken from them. “As per rules, they submitted operation fee of Rs 800 apart from miscellaneous charges for medicines etc,” said Dr Anand.

He added that removed tumor has been sent for biopsy to check if it was cancerous or non-cancerous. “If cancerous it can reoccur and will require special care,” he said.