Puppy born without foot to get bionic implant

[Tony_FLADEM]

A dog born without a foot will soon become "the world's smallest bionic pet" after a procedure to fit the pooch with a prosthetic, titanium foot is completed.

The chihuahua—named "Peggy Leg"—was adopted from a shelter in Roswell, N.M., by a local chihuahua rescue group.

"When we were told about this program it was unbelievable," Mary Jewell of Enchantment Chihuahua Rescue told New Mexico's KOAT-TV. "It was like, 'Oh my gosh, she is going to be a bionic dog, with a bionic leg.'"


http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/puppy-bionic-foot-leg-chihuahua-video-202235948.html

[Curmudgeoness]

1. I love animals, I really do...

but I think that this is a waste of money. A dog can live a normal life without one leg, and there is so much need for money to be used to find cures of pet diseases or to treat animals in life-threatening situations. I would not donate to help with the travel expenses for this one.

But I do think it will be great for this pup.

[Walk away]

2. I guess people can do whatever they want but...

I know a few three legged dogs who don't even seem to know they are missing anything. My friends dog competes in agility with 3 legs. I would spend the money on funding low cost spay neuter or getting dogs out of local shelters and into foster.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Consider, though, that this sort of work can be used

as a foundation to treat humans (as well as other animals). Sure, a dog can get along quite well on three legs, but the knowledge that comes from something like this has broader applications. So I'm all for it.

[Walk away]

4. I am guessing that human prostetics are far advanced of anything...

they will fit this dog with.

I certainly believe that it is up to each person to decide what is best for their pets. However, I would never donate another penny to a charity that would waste money like this. The puppy can get along just fine (maybe even better) without it and millions of homeless pets are in desperate need.

[MADem]

5. Isn't this an IMPLANT, though? Not a "put on the rubber sock thing and stick on the foot"

type prosthetic?

We aren't doing "implanted" feet or legs or any bits on people--at least not routinely. This could be in aid of research for humans down the line, perhaps.

The group contacted researchers at North Carolina State University, which offered to do the bionic implant for free. (The rescue group is raising money to cover Peggy's travel expenses.)
"If she didn't get the procedure done," KOAT reported, "she would have to have her leg amputated because the weight of it puts too much pressure on her spine."
The procedure, while rare in the United States, is increasingly common in Europe.
In 2011, Mitzi—a 3-year-old German Shepherd whose rear foot had to be amputated after she was trampled by a horse—became the world's first dog to be fitted with a prosthetic ankle, according to the Daily Mail.

[Walk away]

6. I suppose so but I still don't understand why they don't just amputate her leg...

and let her live a normal life. Right now there is a card on my desk showing photos of one of my three legged clients competing on an agility course and winning over his four legged competitors. Three days after his full leg amputation he was running up the steps and a few weeks later he was racing around the woods in the Berkshires chasing squirrels. His pain was minimal and he didn't have to learn anything. No risk of infection or future pain.
I have a titanium bar and six bolts in my leg and after four years I feel them with every step. I have good friend who had to have his removed after his body rejected it.
Anyway, it's a personal choice. I still prefer to send my donations where it will help the most animals in a world where millions are being needlessly put to death every year.

[MADem]

7. I had a three legged dog....

Front leg, damaged in a farming accident. They were going to put him down, but I'd known the dog for years, so I took him.

He was never the same after the accident. If he could have had a fake leg from his knee down, I think he would've loved it. He was pretty sharp, very adaptable, but not having that front leg really slowed him down.

If this is an implanted device, not a prosthetic, it could be working as an operational trial for humans--no one does stuff for nothin'--there's always a payback or a pay-it-forward.

The amputation would probably cost more than the travel expenses, I'm thinking. The new foot is a freebie.

[Curmudgeoness]

8. I see that it does use the term "implant", so

this could be experimental for later use on humans. And I am sure that would mean everything to people who have the loss of a limb.

I did notice that the procedure was going to be done for free, and that was a plus. I still do hope the travel expenses are not much. I would not want much needed money going to something that is not life-threatening.

But this could be much needed research to help humans in need, and I guess that makes it important.

[MADem]

9. It makes much more sense to do research in this manner.

I hate it when they mutilate animals and keep them in cages--that certainly wouldn't help determine any real-life efficacy of these prostheses. But when you have a regular pet that gets hurt, and they do the implant, and then the pet goes home and runs and jumps, etc., you have a good opportunity to see how well these things hold up. It might not be completely translatable to humans, but it is certainly a start~!