Ukrainian surgeons fit bio-integrated prosthesis on dog wounded by Russian shelling

The dog, injured during the bombing of the eastern city of Kharkiv, received a bioprosthesis.

Vitalii Kluban, a surgeon from Kharkiv, announced this on Facebook.

"I want to present the first bio-integrated limb prosthetics in a dog, weighing 56 kg, in Kharkiv," the doctor said.

The black terrier lost a leg after being hit by Russian shelling with banned cluster munitions in the Kharkiv region. Ukraine's northeastern region and its regional center city of Kharkiv are some of the most devasted by regular Russian shelling and bombardment. 

At the time of one of the Russian bombardments, the dog was in the garden at the back of the family home. The owners did not abandon their pet and took it to a vet clinic.

"Thanks to the owners for not abandoning their pet in such a difficult time," said Kuban. "Our blood ran cold when they told us how the wounded dog was being transported across the front line. We hope for a speedy recovery of our patient." 

The operation took place in the Saltivka Veterinary Clinic, a branch of the Kharkiv Veterinary Hospital. The implant was developed using a printer based on a three-dimensional computer model 3D metal tech.

In the recorded video, the dog moves quickly and skillfully and seems happy with the new paw. Netizens write that the dog feels better and is already recovering. 

In the comments under the photo, people leave requests for similar operations.