TheDenverChannel.com









Denver News
E-Mail News Alerts
Get breaking news and daily headlines.
Browse all e-mail newsletters
Related To Story

Dog Rescued In Kuwaiti Desert Tries Out Prosthetic Leg

State-Of-The-Art Limb Fuses With Bone

POSTED: 4:22 pm MDT July 17, 2008
UPDATED: 10:40 pm MDT July 17, 2008

A dog found limping on the side of a Kuwaiti highway, dehydrated, malnourished and missing one leg has been given a new leash on life.

Sally, a 2-year-old Saluki, now has a new home in Fort Collins and a new state-of-the-art prosthetic leg.

"At the moment, we're just happy to see things go well for Sally," said Slobodan Tepic, owner of Kyon Veterinary Surgical Products in Switzerland.

As medical miracles go, Sally's surgery is a modern-day marvel.

"(Her prosthetic) is a titanium stem that's placed in the end of the bone and secured with a number of screws. The bone grows directly into the implant," said renowned small animal orthopedic expert Dr. Erick Egger, who is with the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Colorado State University.

Her prosthetic is comprised of titanium, metal and one pink Croc.

"I'm sure most of us here have tried on a pair of Crocs or have heard people talk about how soft it feels," said prosthetics developer Martin Kaufmann, owner of Ortho Pets.

That cushion is exactly what they wanted for Sally.

"So it's a nice, soft, cushy ride," said Kaufmann.

Sally's not the first to receive this kind of prosthetic, but her success in adapting to the new leg could help other dogs and humans. On Thursday, doctors confirmed that the new leg has "taken," and her bone has fused to the prosthetic.

Sally appeared comfortable, walking into a conference room and running around a grassy area, showing off her new accessory. The good news is there has been no sign of infection, her doctors said.

Sally was brought to Colorado for the purpose of testing out the cutting-edge medical procedure.

She was found hobbling in the Kuwaiti desert by a military contractor last year. A veterinarian in Kuwait wanted to amputate her back leg at the hip joint, but a volunteer with the animal welfare group PAWS intervened. PAWS volunteer Steve Holden called Egger and asked if it was sound advice to amputate her leg. Egger said it was common practice with her type of injury but also argued that she would be a perfect candidate for an experimental prosthetic.

Most prosthetics fit around a joint, but Egger was developing a prosthetic that was "in growth" and could be implanted directly into bone.

The prosthetic is not only a perfect fit for Sally, but Sally is a perfect fit for her new family. She now lives with Egger and his wife, Sue.


Links We Like

Sponsored Content
Before you splurge on that pricey remodeling project, beware. It may not pay you back when it's time to sell. More

Employers generally have options when it comes to hiring. Makes sure you present yourself as professionally as possible, or else. More

Want to lose weight? Get a diet and fitness plan customized for you from Jillian Michaels of TV’s Biggest Loser. MoreClick Here

The signs of Cancer can sometimes be very subtle. Here's a guide to help you recognize them early. More

MyReport Network

E - News Registration focus group
  My Report Network: Tell your story on 7NEWS. Sign up to be a member of our My Report Network
Sponsored Links

MyReport Network

E - News Registration focus group
  My Report Network: Tell your story on 7NEWS. Sign up to be a member of our My Report Network