Disabled Labrador Mix Clearly Loves New Prosthetics That Allow Him To Frolic in Field
Two months after adoption lovable Lab mix Sammy from a rescue organization, his new family discovered he had a birth defect in his back legs that was affecting his mobility. They tried surgery to help him walk more like a normal dog, but it didn’t work. For a while, they weren’t even sure they could keep the dog with all his special needs, and were even advised to euthanize him due to a possible “quality of life” issue. But the young boy in the family, Rowan, loved him too much to let him go, and so the family tried another option: a wheelchair.
With his canine wheelchair, Sammy’s life transformed, and he could suddenly do all the things a normal dog could—go on walks, run at the beach, even go camping and hiking. Sammy’s enthusiasm and energy were great—all he needed was an adaptive device to help him with his back leg mobility. And now, thanks to a new pair of prosthetics, he’s even learning another way to move.
In this video, Sammy is taking his first real frolic in a field wearing brand-new prosthetic braces on his back legs. He’s clearly loving the freedom that these adaptive technologies are giving him, and is so happy he’s rolling in the field with joy.
“He’s taking off running!” exclaims his mom in the clip.
Learning How to Move
As with all prosthetics, learning how to move again takes some patience, time, and training. The braces are going to be helpful for support for Sammy, but he will need to build up muscle inches hind quarters and learn how to walk using these devices. Still, for a first time, it’s pretty impressive and remarkable what is now available for even a disabled rescue dog.
In the caption, Sammy’s mom writes, “If you don’t know Sammy he is usually in his wheels. He now has two knee prosthetic braces from Bionic Pets that allow him to walk short distances. He will still need his wheels for longer distances but he can use his new braces for increased mobility. This is the dog I was told to euthanize after his failed knee surgeries, but look at him now! Comeback!”
You love to see it.
Prosthetic Limbs for Dogs
Though dog prosthetics are not cheap, companies like Bionic Pets try to make each piece custom fit for the dog in question. Many tripod or three-legged dogs don’t need prosthetics at all, but for some disabled animals, having that extra support can completely change their quality of life. Most prosthetics made by Bionic Pets cost between $700 and $1500 dollars, depending on their complexity. There are several other companies on the market that design these kinds of devices. Dog wheelchairs, on the other hand, cost between $300-$1000 based on size and other components, and are also made by a variety of companies.
Though it can’t help in all instances (such as Sammy’s birth defect), we recommend investing in pet health insurance when your pet is young and healthy, as these costs can add up quickly.
Sammy’s mom is clearly overcome by emotion in this video as she watches her beloved dog running on his own four legs. More than anything, she wants him to be happy, and for people to understand that disabilities like this do not hold dogs back. “Please consider rescuing special need animals,” she says. “They can be so rewarding and Sammy has been a blessing to our lives.”
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