The Beauty of Animal Prosthetics

The Beauty of Animal Prosthetics

It is very common to see a person with a prosthetic, but how many animals have you seen with a prosthetic leg? Thanks to Derrick Campana, it is common to see a pet in your neighborhood walking down the street with a leg prosthetic. 

These prosthetics give these animals a second chance to be themselves. It was not an easy road for Campana, but we are glad he did not give up. In an article by Mother Nature Network, Campana recalls his journey and the many animals he has helped along the way.

Helping Animals Walk and Run Again

This bright idea came to Campana and caused a career-changing moment. He went to school to learn how to fit humans for orthotics and prosthetics. 

He wanted animals to have a second chance, but without the expensive, invasive surgeries that are typically required. Campana is the founder of Animal Ortho Care, a Virginia-based company that makes prosthetics and braces for all sorts of creatures. About twelve years ago, Campana was a foreigner to the field of human prosthetics. A veterinarian came to him with the idea of making an artificial limb for her dog.

"She was a holistic vet and said a lot of people need these things," Campana tells MNN. "I said I would love to do this because I love animals, so I thought it was a perfect match." He gave it a try, and it worked out well. He then gradually expanded to include other animals.

But while it worked out in the beginning, getting more veterinarians on board proved to be complicated. The word prosthetics was not in a veterinarian's dictionary. Prosthetics for animals was a far-fetched idea back then. "Prosthetics was such a bad word back in the day. Vets didn’t want to take away surgeries, and didn't know much about them," Campana says. "They did a lot of high-level amputations. Traditionally, vets would take the entire leg even if it was just a problem with the toe."

Luckily things began to change for Campana. He went to vet offices and showed them what his company was capable of, and pet owners began to follow as well. Pet owners soon realized there was a better alternative to amputation. Pet owners saw that they had another option instead of complete amputation. Campana made it easy for pet owners to fit their pet with a casting. He developed a kit that allows owners to create a cast of their animal's limb. These kits come with instructions and a step-by-step video. They send in the fiberglass cast to the company and get a prosthetic in return. "I send casting kits all over the world," Campana says. "I turn those into a dog's leg without ever seeing the dog." This is all done with or without the help of their vet. 

Soon, all his clients were of the critter variety. Campana has made prosthetics and braces for ponies, goats, deer, sheep, donkeys, a llama, and a crane. He's going to visit a ram he assisted in Spain and has worked with an eagle and an owl at Busch Gardens. He went to Thailand and made prosthetics for Motala and Mosha, two elephants that had stepped on a landmine. But a majority of his clients are still canines.

Taxi My Pet

It is people like Mr. Campana who make a huge difference in an animal’s life. Just like us, they deserve a second chance and a caring person to give a loving hand.

If you require transportation assistance for your pet call Taxi My Pet. We are a trusted pet taxi service in Abilene that will get your pet to their destination on time. Give us a call at 325-386-7600 or book their ride at www.taximypet.com.