A miniature horse once destined to live an immobile life after a nasty dog attack is miraculously walking again, thanks to doctors at Colorado State University's James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Shine, a three year old mini, was forced to have his lower-left hind leg amputated after being attacked by dogs in December.
Dr. Laurie Goodrich, a CSU associate professor of equine orthopedics, led a two-hour surgery to remove Shine’s infected hoof, and the hinge joint of the lower leg, in March.
Owners Jacque Corsentino and Lee Vigil – who live on a ranch in Florence, Colorado -- asked CSU veterinarians to find a way to give Shine a chance at walking again.
So, using a 3-D printer, Goodrich was able to build an exact replica of Shine’s hoof – something that’s difficult to do with full-size horses due to the weight they carry.
"It's the first one I've done, but I've always wanted to try," Goodrich said in a release. "We had no way of preserving that limb. So we had to take it off, and this was the only option to preserve his life."
Shine is now back home with his family and expected to live a normal life with minimal pain.
Editor's note: Video provided by Colorado State University
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