I nipped down to Jesus Green for a quick dog walk during a very dull start to the day and wondered half way there why I was bothering lugging the camera along with me. And then I did a complete double take when I noticed that this dog who'd come to say hello had a bionic foot. In fact we know Papagena from old as she used to knock Monty flying as a rambunctious puppy and I was always having to beat a hasty retreat which was a shame because she has a very nice, interesting French owner. He kindly let me take some photos and filled me in on the story. Papagena had an operation on an arthritic foot and the dressings were applied too tightly which resulted in gangrene and amputation. Although lots of dogs manage without a back leg she is a heavy Bull Mastiff and couldn't have coped. So the vet's malpractice insurance paid for her to go to Noel Fitzpatrick who starred in a BBC show called 'Bionic Vet' a couple of years ago and has famously made two prosthetic legs for a cat. So the process of replacing the leg involved a year in hospital, a lot of high tech computer modelling (gait, weight etc), a new leg from Oscar Pistorius's leg supplier and a £100,000 bill! But it's a great outcome - she walks and runs without any sign of a limp and was quite hard to catch as she doesn't keep still. In the right hand picture he was saying that he has to watch she doesn't put too much weight on as the leg is designed to come off under strain rather than break the fragile part of the leg that he's holding. She was the 3rd dog in the world to get a bionic leg but there are various other bionic animals I've discovered. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33124266/ns/technology_and_science-picture_stories/
Three good things:
1. I did not get run over by a bus when cycling in to town :0/
2. Amazing response to my dahlia collage - huge thanks!
3. Bionic legs for pets and clever vets.
A truly fascinating story Judith, I was mesmorised. I remember seeing that programme about the cat & it's bionic legs. Quite a topical story after watching the Paralympics too, I would have felt very privileged to see this dog, he looks very happy as so he should be!!!! Incidentally a very smart pair of gloves!!!
As we found out, the world of bionic dogs and other amazing things that surgeons can now do is actually amazing! Good story. Not least your no 1
Be careful out there x
Judith, what an interesting story and thanks for making the collage to share it with us. It's probably the most amazing doggie story I've every heard. It must have been hard for the owner as well as Papagena to cope with all of that.
Cool story,
100 grand what's it made out of chicken lips and rocking horse shit :P
I reckon I could knock something up in my garage that would work just as well, if not duct tape and an old action man leg jobs a good un ;D
Modern medicine is just incredible, how wonderful that Papagena has been given this new lease of life. Touching story and sympathetic collage to go with it.
Amazing story, amazing dog, amazing prosthetic technology, amazing vet. Glad you had your camera and were able to get these fabulous shots and share this story. Papagena is a beauty and it's good to see she's doing so well with her new leg. I agree with @happypat ~ fab gloves on the owner. I might have guessed he was French. :)
Wow, what a heart warming story. I love that it really doesn't influence her days and she can continue basically as normal. Great shots to go with the story Judith.
Be careful out there x
100 grand what's it made out of chicken lips and rocking horse shit :P
I reckon I could knock something up in my garage that would work just as well, if not duct tape and an old action man leg jobs a good un ;D