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Injured tortoise receives 3D printed shell
tortoise
Four vets, a dental surgeon and a 3D designer used a desktop 3D printer, measurements and images of healthy tortoises. (Stock photo)
Prosthetic shell created for Fred by Brazilian team

A tortoise has been given a second chance with a 3D printed prosthetic shell. The female, who was discovered severely injured by a fire, had the shell fitted by a team of designers in Brazil in a world first.

The Animal Avengers, a volunteer rescue group of four veterinary surgeons, a dental surgeon and a 3D designer used a desk top 3D printer, measurements and images of healthy tortoises to construct a four-piece life-saving prosthetic.

“Freddy was the first tortoise in the world to receive a fully rebuilt hull and the first creature that we, as a newly formed group of animal rescuers, decided to help,” said the designer Cicero Moraes. The designs were then sent to dental surgeon, Dr Paulo Miamoto who created the 3D print out.

Freddy, named after the fire-damaged film character Freddy Krueger, has returned to full mobility after the fire destroyed over 85 per cent of her hull.  Her prosthetic shell was hand painted to enable her to blend into her natural habitat. She has since gone on to live in the care of vet, Dr Rodrigo Rabello.

The group have used the same specialist technology and medical expertise to create artificial beaks for toucans, a parrot and a goose.  

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.