THREE NOEL ‘MIRACLES’

Noel Fitzpatrick has invented a range of groundbreaking prostheses to replace animals’ lost limbs.

A pair of purr-fect new legs for Peanut

Peanut was born with deformed front legs, so his owner took him to Noel when he was one. After a CT scan, Noel and his team used a 3D printer to create a pair of implants and, after the amputation of Peanut’s paws and the bottom of his front legs, the implants were inserted. It was the first time this type of prosthesis had been applied to both front legs of a cat, echoing Oscar, who was the first for a cat’s hind legs. Result: Peanut now adores exploring outside.

Cookie walks again

Eighteen-month-old cocker spaniel Cookie had been partly paralysed in her back legs since birth. In 2014 it was discovered she had a cyst pressing on her spinal cord but the nerves were so damaged that its removal caused no improvement. She also had hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis. Fitzpatrick gave her two prosthetic feet, two hip replacements and physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. Result: Cookie will live a normal-length, pain-free life.

Lulu the bionic rottweiler

The six-year-old rottweiler cross could not stand or walk and had to be carried in a sling. Fitzpatrick’s team developed custommade spinal implants which Fitzpatrick fitted in a 12-hour operation. Result: Within two days, Lulu could walk again.