Claire Jackson
Disclaimer—This paper partially fulfills a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. This paper is a student, not a professional, paper. This paper is based on publicly available information and may not provide complete analyses of all relevant data. If this paper is used for any purpose other than these authors’ partial fulfillment of a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, the user does so at his or her own risk.
ANIMAL PROSTHETICS
Claire Jackson ()
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Claire Jackson
WHAT ARE ANIMAL PROSTHETICS
Based on a true story, the movie Dolphin Tale was one of the first times the idea of animal prosthetics had graced the general public’s minds’. There’s nothing better to an animal enthusiast than a heartfelt movie about an innocent animal. As an animal lover myself, this really piqued my interest and got my attention. I then decided to read up on the topic of animal prosthesis. Prosthetics is a growing industry, and as more and more innovative ways to create prosthetics have surfaced, the use of orthoses and prostheses for injured animals is becoming increasingly common. Not saying it is common to see in our everyday lives, but for many animals struggling with impairments it is a much more feasible option than it has been in the past. Orthoses are any medical device attached to the body to position, immobilize, correct deformity, assist muscles, support, or improve function [1].
PROCESS OF ANIMAL PROSTHESES
Bodily mechanics vary so widely from species to species so there is no right way to build an animal orthosis or prosthesis, however a common developing process goes into each device [2]. An initial evaluation of the animal is done. This includes a thorough assessment by a veterinarian of the impairment and a clear set goal that is to be achieved; for example, a turtle needs a different kind of mobility than a dog. Generally, a 3D model or a 3D image of the patient’s limb is created. With the model, engineers do a lot of trial and error with different forms of prosthetics, depending on the goals aspired to be achieved by the patient. The material used is also not standard, most commonly I have seen carbon-fiber and or advance plastics being used. After the prosthetic is actually developed, the client comes in for a fitting [3]. This is where there is a large difference between humans and animals, although both can experience physical decline of the device, humans have an added obstacle mentally. Humans experience issues with the appearance of their prosthetic whereas animals just have to physically accept the device [4]. Then depending on whether or not the prosthetic is accepted by the patient, it will be tweaked, redeveloped, or if accepted, the patient will move onto rehab. The rehab period typically lasts a few months but can be longer depending on progress. The patient goes to rehab with a rehabilitation specialist and is worked with so that they can achieve maximum compatibility with their new or modified limb [3]. This is just to readjust the patient to life with their extra hardware.
SPECIFIC CASES
Naki’o was just a puppy when he was found in an icy cellar in an abandoned home, his owner was found dead. The poor pup’s paws and part of his tail were frozen into a puddle. This now homeless dog had to have all four paws, and his tail amputated due to frostbite. Fortunately for Naki’o he was just the dog Pace was looking for. Pace, having a soft spot for rescues, and being a veterinarian was up for giving Naki’o the love he deserved. Having experience with animals, she knew about animal prosthetics and decided to raise the money to get him prosthetics for his two hind legs. Remarkably, the engineers and specialists she took Naki’o’s case to offered to make the two front legs for free. A company in Colorado called Ortho Pets specializes in pet prosthetics. After they saw how well he did with the back legs and noticed the struggle with his still unaided front legs they wanted to help; it was no longer about the cost. They wanted to provide Naki’o a more comfortable and longer life. Naki’o was the first dog recorded to have four prosthetic legs. Some refer to him as the ‘bionic dog.’ Naki’o now lives happily as he has adjusted to his new limbs again; he can once again play fetch to his heart’s content and enjoy the ground under his new feet [5]. Prosthetics in this case were the perfect option. In the past the dog would have just been euthanized but all of this new found technology allows us to help these animals and improve their quality of life after tragedies like Naki’o’s.
Other cases have occurred with wildlife animals, with the goal in the end being to be able to release them back into their natural habitat. Examples of wild animals given a second chance are Vitória the goose. She was dropped off at an animal rescue center in Brazil and was missing half her beak. A group of Veterinarians were able to 3D print a new beak made of a biodegradable polymer made from corn and sugarcane [6]. Beauty the bald eagle was shot in the face by poachers in Alaska, most of her upper beak was obliterated. Once she was found and rescues, the chances of her beak growing back were slim and that being crucial to her survival euthanizing seemed like the only option. Luckily for Beauty, Nate Calvin, a mechanical engineer was able to help out and 3D print her a new beak out of nylon-polymer material which was mounted with titanium [7].Smaug the Komoto Dragon was givena brace in order to keep him from walking on the wrong side of his foot. These are just some of the several incredible cases in the last couple of years that have helped animals thrive again with their new devices.
PROBLEMS WITH ANIMAL PROSTHETICS
Although there are endless benefits to animal orthoses and prostheses, everything has its downsides. One problem is although a prosthetic can be created perfectly to fit an animal, there may still be an issue getting the animal to use it. Some just cannot get past the question of ‘what is that thing doing on me?!’ and because we cannot fully communicate with the animal, it is not known why they will not use it; it could be uncomfort or unwillingness [8].
Getting animal prosthetics is also another issue. The process can take a long time- up to several months from the initial evaluation, to the actual fabrication, to the tweaking, to the rehab, then to success.
An enormous obstacle that presents itself with animal prosthetics is the variety of animals. Every type of animal has a different size variance, and anatomy. In order to create truly compatible prosthetics research needs to be done on every different client because the anatomy and musculoskeletal concepts are very different and need to be understood in order to have something created.
A final yet prominent obstacle is the accessibility of these devices for animals. Whether the prosthetics are being 3D printed or handmade they are very expensive, a single animal prostheses can be between one thousand and three thousand dollars. For many people this is an unrealistic number so unfortunately euthanizing or fully amputating, in the case of a limb, is still the most available option for many [8].
HOW THIS IS RELEVANT TO ME
I have always been fixated on animals. From the time I was a child to now I have always had an oddly strong bond with them. I love all animals; any species, from any habitat, any size, I think they are all incredible and so valuable to this earth. For a long time, I have known I want my future career to be something having to do with animals because they are my true passion. I’ve even dedicated to going vegan for the animals! Animal prosthetics specifically, though, have a special value to me. For the past 8 years I have dedicated a lot of my free time to raising and training service dogs for an organization near my home. Susquehanna Service Dogs raises and trains services dogs to assist children and adults with disabilities to become more independent, with a vision of training dogs to assist people to live full, independent lives in the community[9].
I fully believe in and support what this organization is able to do for people. I have seen and genuinely appreciate and am amazed by the things these dogs are able to do for people. For example, I worked with a young autistic boy who had violent outbursts, when these would occur the dog was trained to pin the child up against the wall in order for him to calm down. I have worked with many seizure dogs who are trained to lay on the client while they are seizing in order to apply pressure and in a way contain the seizure. Last example, I have trained PTSD dogs who really can sense when their person is having a reaction and the dogs are trained to recognize the ques and tap them with their noses which notifies the person that they need to remove themselves from the situation that is causing the symptoms. However, it isn’t just large things like this, it is the small things not only service dogs but service animals worldwide can do. Simple things to assist their humans like turning on lights, signaling when the doorbell rings, opening drawers and doors, or bringing things like a remote or something else needed, just never ceases to amaze me.
My past experiences, paired with my passion for animals is why animal prosthetics interests me so much. I love the idea of being able to give back to animals, they provide so much happiness for humans worldwide, whether they actually provide a service or not, the presence of a pet, the unconditional live they give, or sometimes just the beauty of an animal is enough to make anyone’s day. So to me being able to give back to animals is a dream come true and the idea of being able to improve their quality of their precious lives is enough to put a smile on my face any day.
CONCLUSION
Animal prosthetics is definitely something more commonly seen within the last couple of years, and I think that is wonderful. Although it has its problems I believe it can become more accessible with time. I love that this is a way we can give back to the wildlife that does so much for us. The advancements in out day and age of technology are truly amazing, the fact that a couple of years ago the best options for an impaired animal were euthanizing or full amputation. There is no reason our animal friends shouldn’t have the same access to prosthetics as we do.
SOURCES
[1] “About Veterinary Orthotic & Prosthetic Devices.” Animal Orthotic & Prosthetic Resources. 2012. Accessed 10.31.2016.
[2]E. A. “Animals in Motion-With Prosthetic Limbs.” WIRED. 10.11.2011. Accessed 10.30.2016.
[3]OrthoPets. “The Process.” “Ortho Pets. 04.15.2014. Accessed 10.31.2016.
[4] K. R. “Surviving on Human Ingenuity and Compassion.” Excyclopedia Britannica. 02.22.2013 Accessed 10.31.2016.
[5] A. N. “’Bionic’ Dog Walks Again After Losing Paws to Frostbite.” ABC News. 06.25.2012. Accessed 10.31.2016.
[6] C. A. “Injured Animals Get Second Chance With 3-D Printed Limbs.” National Geographic. 08.19.2016. Accessed 10.31.2016.
[7] K. B. “10 Animals Who Got a 2nd Chance in Life with 3D Printing.” 3D Printing Industry. 06.22.2015. Accessed 10.31.2016
[8] J. T. “Walking on All Fours: the world of animal prostheses.” Mosaic- the science of life. 05.19.2015. Accessed 10.31.2016.
[9] “Who We Are.” Keystone Human Services. 2012. Accessed 10.31.2016.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank my peers for helping me format this paper and edit my ideas, I would also like to thank my academic advisor, Shauna, for helping me look at all of the engineering pathways. I would like to thank the SSD organizationfor giving me unforgettable life experiences, and finally I would like to thank Benedum for being open 24 hours.
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Claire Jackson
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