Meet Robbie, the Shetland sheepdog who has had his life transformed by futurist robotic legs.
The 11-year-old dog was a regular patient at the vets for five years, suffering from multiple problems including paw injuries, skin tumours and orthopaedic issues.
Painkillers, surgery, antibiotics and hormone replacement failed to help, meaning owner Sharman Steel, 63, was at her wit’s end.
Robbie has been fitted with orthopaedic braces (SWNS)
But then the vets had an idea: the dog’s back legs could be strengthened with state-of-the-art exoskeleton braces.
Sharman accepted the expensive treatment, and now Robbie is Britain’s first official bionic hound who, according to his owner, “loves his little boots”.
“When he’s pottering about in them he doesn’t even seem to notice he’s wearing them,” she said.
"Sometimes when he’s going up and down steps he has a fall but he picks himself up and carries on.
Robbie is Britain’s first ‘bionic hound’ (SWNS)
"He’s a lovely dog, he’s so clever and I think that’s one of the reasons why he’s taken so well to the new legs.”
Pete van Dongen, clinical director of Pennard Vets in Sevenoaks, Kent, who fitted Robbie with orthopaedic braces, said: "He is no doubt one of very few dogs in the UK, if not the only one, walking with two artificial feet.
"It’s not quite The Supervet, but very close."
Robbie has suffered multiple injuries and illnesses (SWNS)
Pete said: "He is now walking well on his legs and he can even sit and lie down and get up again, he seems happy and content.
"He will wear the orthotics whenever he goes out with his mum and little Robbie gets to be ‘Robo-Dog’.”
Sharman, a retired teacher from Chislehurst, south east London, said: “They are more sort of splints, but we call them his boots.
The 11-year-old is still getting used to his new ‘boots’ (SWNS)
"He’s only just got both of them and he’s doing really well, even with his funny legs he’s still so energetic.
"It’s pioneering treatment, and is really good for dogs who have healing problems so it will help loads of dogs – it’s so good I could get this at my normal vet.”
Luckily for Robbie, he is an absolute favourite at the vets, and nurses say he is a true gentlemen.
Robbie takes a rest (SWNS)
Sharman said: “They have been absolutely fantastic there at keeping him going, and Pete is brilliant.
"If it wasn’t for him, Robbie would not be with us today. He has worked hard on him to give him a good quality of life.
"The legs cost about £1,000 each, but when you compare that to the money we would have to spend on operations it really isn’t a lot, and we have very good insurance.
"It’s definitely worth it to change Robbie’s life for the better,”
(Credit: SWNS)