FORT COLLINS, Colo., June 28 (UPI) -- Veterinarians at Colorado State University are working on a prosthetic leg for an injured dog found roaming the desert of Kuwait.
The dog was named Sally by an animal welfare group that rescued it. One of the group's members is an alumnus of the university, renowned for its veterinary program, and the dog was flown to the United States.
Sally is a 1-year-old purebred Saluki, which the Denver Post said resembles a furry greyhound. She is missing part of her back left leg just above her ankle joint.
Colorado State veterinarian Erick Egger told the Post he and his team are trying to design the first of its kind L-shaped prosthetic similar to replacement hips for humans.
He said the hope is the dog's bone and muscle tissue will grow onto the implant, which will be coated with chemicals to encourage adhesion.
Egger said if successful, the work could prove beneficial to soldiers who lose limbs.
"We're all basically the same animal," he said. "The dog is a very good test bed."
He said because the project is still in the development stage, it's hard to say what her custom-built leg will be made of or how much it will cost.
