“The Wild World of Animal Prostheses”

Motala The Elephant with her prosthetic leg

Sometimes people think that caretakers go too far to care for their pets and/or animals. In our previously article, we found out that we are spending an extreme amount of money on high-class food for dogs and other pets. But when we are spending money on prosthetics for animals to later benefit people, I’d have to say that that’s pretty okay. Yes, I know that animals don’t always react the same way to things the same way humans do, I get that, but sometimes there’s nothing for us to complain about (The only thing I’m not crazy about are Neuticles, ridiculous!). I myself would have a hard time adjusting to a prosthetic for an arm or leg and the fact that animals can do it so easily amazes me. I am a full supporter in giving animals prosthetics, but if the animal is very, very old, maybe not so much, know what I mean? When I read about Motala the elephants story about stepping on a land mine I was on the verge of tears, I am touched by this story that, after years of planning and testing, Motala got her foot back and is now leading a, somewhat, normal life. This is probably the best it will get for her. There was also something that I could (kind of, in a way) relate to throughout the article, and that was the ‘ingrowth’ prosthetics, otherwise known as osseointegration. This is relatable to be because I have teeth implants, two screws have been surgically implanted into my upper jaw so that I may have teeth again! But before I made that choice, I was given the decision of either that or just having the same retainer I had had for almost 8 years. This situation is very much like the decision that people would have to make for themselves, or even their animals, when deciding on a prosthetic. The decision I made was to get the implants done and it has forever changed my life, very much the same way it would change a dog’s life or even a human’s life to have the decision between the ingrowth prosthetic or the other option which just covered the area and you needed to wear a sling. If I had to make a choice, I would 100% go with the ingrowth procedure, and I would walk out with no regrets.