Pets can also benefit from 3D printed prosthetics

Pursuing its mission to produce functional, accessible and personalized prostheticsthe entrepreneur Geovanny Padillafounder of 3D Equaprosthesishas been expanding its catalog to also cooperate in the mobility of the most beloved of the house: Dogs and cats.

taking advantage of the 3d technology with whom he has been working for about 7 years in the field of human orthopedicsis now also developing products to physically rehabilitate pets, which due to illness, accident or age have partially or totally lost their movements.

Superhero hands: Giovanny Padilla’s 3D prosthetics from Ecuaprotesis

“These products are completely personalized, tailored to each pet, since we consider that they cannot be managed by standard sizes, because physical rehabilitation should not be standardized”, comments this engineer in Electronics and Telecommunications (Espol).

This service has grown along with its offer of human prostheses. “Precisely during the first year of 3D Equaprosthetics, through our social networks they began to consult us about prostheses for puppies, even though 3 out of 10 messages were about this. So we decided to start research and develop prosthetic products for petsfollowing our guidelines”, he explains.

One of those cases, the first in fact, was the most special of all, Geovanny recalls, to the point that they still visit the little animal to maintain his 3D printed wheelchair. “She is mochitaa beautiful dog that was abandoned in Guayaquil, presumably for being born without his front legs. A person with a big heart adopted her and tried by all means to provide her with a better quality of life and prevent her from dragging when walking.”

This is how Mochita learned to run and enjoy traveling with her new family. “Imagine a pet that was abandoned by someone, thinking that maybe it would be a burden or that it would not make them happy, found a better chance to live in the right hands.”

Thanks to an Entrepreneurship and Innovation contest in Guayaquil, his business received financial and academic aid, which has strengthened this line of business called PET 3D Ecuador. “We currently have a wide variety of products that not only help present injuries, but also items that help prevent future injury, since it is ‘better to prevent than to treat’”. For this reason, he illustrates, in 2022 the public will see the launch of a special device for blind dogs.

At the moment it has wheelchair rear and front, and with four wheels for all breeds (dogs and cats); splints or orthoses; and joint protectorsamong them: knee pad, hip pad, tarsus protector, carpus protector, shoulder pads, elbow pads and support band.

To access the service, interested parties can schedule an appointment to be attended in personthe premises are located at Urdenor 1. You can also access a virtual consultation which, according to Geovanny, has made it a lot easier for pet owners across the country. In this case, people receive the instructions that detail step by step how to take the measurements from home.

As for prices, Padilla clarifies that due to the range it offers, the values ​​are just as variedespecially if the device requires special accommodation. “For example, we normally make four-wheel chairs for older pets that no longer have enough energy to walk, but in some cases some puppies cannot lift their heads and that type of chair requires an extra modification.” On average, their prices range from $35 to $330. All items include warranty.

“We almost always have a solution to propose, and in the event that we see that we cannot provide one, we mention it with total sincerity”, adds the engineer. “Because there are cases that are difficult to treat. But we always recommend a veterinary evaluation and look at other rehabilitation or treatment options.”

And he also reminds his followers the importance of staying physically active to pets, even more so if they have some type of disability. “Because of this circumstance sometimes pet owners leave them isolated, just lying down, which definitely worsens any clinical picture both physically and emotionally.”