Responses:veterinary protheses

Responses:veterinary protheses

Erba Medica

7/6/2001

Dear List

Thanks to all that have answered.


This was the question:

Dear collagues,
I am searching informations about prothesis for a german sheperd dog (
back paw).
Daniele Franchini
Erbamedica
Italy

Here are all the answers;
1)

www.mhmoandp.com < <URL Redacted>> Henry the dog
2)

Hi Daniele , I have done some work on dogs, however they get along very well on three
legs. Best wishes
Gary Seaman
3)

Please forward your replies to me. I'm interested in this area; prosthesis
for animals. I have worked on the development of prosthesis for horses. I'm
not aware of any for dogs.
David Lindsey

4)

Hi Daniele
For the last two years l have been making prosthetic legs for a sheep. He
lost both hooves on his back legs.
His amputation was very similar to a symes. Using a symes socket design and
considering the biomechanics of a sheeps hind legs, we design hooves out of
high density EVA material.
He wears them with wool stump socks [below elbow socks]
I had to drill air holes around the distal end because he wears them 24
hours a day and his stumps needed ventilation.
Anyway l'm not sure what else to tell you. If the dog has an amputation any
higher l can't really help.
Lisa Dodds
Orthotics and Prosthetics South Australia
5)

Hi, I have done many orthoses for dogs of all breeds, Hind limbs, front
limbs, and even back braces. I've only done 1 dog prosthesis . It was a
german sheppard, caught in a trap, Self amputated by chewing off his foot.
I could try to help you if you give me more details. Good Luck.
Tami Cron CPO

6)

Hello Erba:
A number of articles on veterinary prosthetics and orthotics appeared in
the October 1, 2000 edition of the O & P Business News. You can check
them out online at:
<URL Redacted> < <URL Redacted>>
I believe that When Christensen, at Alaska Orthopedics, Anchorage,
Alaska, USA, has some experience with large dogs. Good luck!
Geoff Hall, CP ( c )
Custom Prosthetic Services Ltd.
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
7)
Hi Daniele, Fortunately, most of a dog's weight is on the front feet because of the
weight of the chest and head. I have made a prototype made of Orthoplast, (a
low temperature thermoplastic) lined on the inside with a removable liner of
pelite, and the part that contacted the floor had crepe glued on and it was
held on with velcro straps. Just look at the forces it will sustain on
weight bearing and how to hold it on and hope that the dog won't want to chew
on it!
    Regardless of how great you make it, you never know if dog will decide
to use it or not.
    I start with the prototype, telling the owner that if it works, we could
make a more permanent version. My last client decided that the prototype was
working OK and she stuck with it, which save some money.
   Good luck!
Randy McFarland, CPO

8) www.sunnyhills.co < http://www.sunnyhills.com >


9)You would only be fitting the owner, dogs do very well with three legs.
Brad van Lenthe

10) I had a cat who lost a back leg to cancer and did really very well with no
prosthesis; died at age 17 (11 years post-op) of renal failure but active
including stairs and counter top jumping til that last week or so...I
wrote about prosthesis use and got a few replies favoring it and
suggesting someone, but mostly advised against and I think the latter were
right.
Vikki Stefans, pediatric physiatrist (rehab doc for kids)