In Siberia, Russia, the winter can be incredibly harsh; the temperature can drop to severe lows (-60°c). Even summer in this country can be overshadowed by rain and some snow. That is why people have to prepare to help them through the extreme cold and dark months. However, not all animals are as resilient and can survive through rough weather.
(Image: Vesti.ru / east2west news)
(Image: Vesti.ru / east2west news)
Ryzhik (Ginger or Redhead) was found in Tomsk, the city of Siberia, where temperatures dropped to minus 40°C. All of his paws were so badly frostbitten, with gangrene set in quickly, and the vet had no other option but amputation. Despite losing all their limbs, Ryzhik’s new owner didn’t give up on him and decided to take him to a clinic in Novosibirsk, where they could set him up with four prosthetic paws.
(Image: Vesti.ru / east2west news)
The clinic fitted the artificial paws using sophisticated computer tomography and 3D modeling. These limbs would be the most comfortable for the felines.
(Image: Vesti.ru / east2west news)
Surgeon Sergey Gorshkov said, ‘He is the first cat in the world to experience such surgeries. The limbs are fully connected with the skin and bones. The part of the limb that goes inside the body is spongy; the bone tissue grows inside it. We achieved a good result. We have secured the function of the limb, although part of it has been removed.’
(Image: Vesti.ru / east2west news)
As the video shows, he is not yet running or walking with confidence, but it is early days, and he is getting used to walking with them in the future.
Watch the video about Ryzhik below:
h/t: Mirror