Researcher helping three legged friends
A Salford scientist is going into business manufacturing artificial limbs for animals- a venture that could save the lives of family pets and ultimately protect endangered species.
Dr Glyn Heath from the University of Salford is setting up a unique service for vets designing, manufacturing and fitting prosthetic body parts - including false legs for animals as large as horses or as small as mice.
The ex-zoologist has successfully fitted limbs on 15 amputee dogs as part of an initial research project and even solved a paraplegic rat’s mobility problems by building a wheeled chariot’ for it to push itself along in.
Now, he is in discussions with the veterinary industry alongside the University’s Academic Enterprise unit, with a view to commercialising the concept. He said: ‘What we’re able to do is a feat of engineering and completely unique in Britain.
‘Helping disabled animals to walk and move about again has the potential to improve the lives of pets, preserve gene pools and support breeding programmes for animals like race horses.’
The service - called Lacerta - is currently only available through referrals from veterinary clinics, and Glyn is keen to make contact with any vets interested in offering this service to their clients.
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