Little donkey 'back on all fours' as he gets prosthetic leg from Dorset Orthopaedic team
Tommy the donkey was born with one of his front legs much weaker than the others and struggled with his mobility at a farm in Worcester.
Thursday 23 December 2021 15:58, UK
A three-legged donkey is believed to be the first in the UK to be fitted with a prosthetic leg.
Tommy's owner Gary, who owns a farm in Worcester, contacted Dorset Orthopaedic, a provider of human prosthetics based near Ringwood, after growing concerned over the animal's mobility.
The donkey was born with a deformed front leg, which left him struggling to walk and with a damaged back and shoulder.
The specialists from Dorset created a bespoke prosthetic for Tommy to allow him to walk more comfortably.
The prosthetic is fitted every morning with a hoist that takes Tommy's weight.
Gary said: "I'd heard about the great work being done by Matt Hughes and his team at Dorset Orthopaedic and thought it might be a challenge they would take on.
"Thankfully with a lot of time and effort Tommy is now back on all fours and enjoying his new found mobility."
He added that Tommy is getting so used to his new prosthetic limb that he is starting to want to sleep with it still on.
The donkey also now has a specialist osteopath called Tony Niven who also gives Tommy laser treatment every two weeks to help ease any discomfort and build muscle strength.