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He Makes Bionic Limbs For Any Animal
Derrick Campana keeps pet animals alive and thriving with innovative prosthetics developed at his company, Bionic Pets. Initially trained to help humans, he switched to animals after he was asked in 2004 to design a prosthetic for a dog and found it very rewarding.
Today he is known worldwide for his work with all types of animals from ducks and eagles to camels and elephants. Animal Planet aired a feature on him creating a prosthetic for an elephant. Recently, Campana’s company gained media attention after he devised prosthetics for all four legs of a goat that had been born in the winter and lost its limbs to frostbite.
“What sets us apart is I have more experience, I have a mobile unit, and our process is fast which keeps costs down,” Campana explains.
About 70 percent of his company’s work is designing braces. For $695, a custom brace on a partial ACL tear can help heal a dog in 6 months, versus an expensive surgery. The brace can be worn for a lifetime for more severe tears.
The cost for a partial or full limb prosthetic is about $1,000 on average. It can all be done through the mail.
Clients receive a kit for them or their vet to take a mold and record various measurements. Bionic Pets staff mold and assemble the prosthetic and ship it back. For animals that are still growing, Campana offers price breaks on Go-As-You-Grow packages with multiple prosthetics. Upkeep is also important and pads and straps are replaced as needed.
“I do tons of work with sanctuaries working with cows, sheep, goats and other animals,” Campana says.
He’s worked with 3D technology to print duck feet and notes that costs keep coming down.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Bionic Pets, Derrick Campana, 43671 Trade Center Place, #148, Sterling, Va. 20166 (ph 703 474-6204; www.bionicpets.org; derrick@bionicpets.org; Facebook – Bionic Pets).



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2021 - Volume #45, Issue #3