A frog called Brullie is believed to be the first in the world to be fitted with an artificial leg.The giant bullfrog had his shattered lower leg bone replaced with an inch-long metal pole in a two hour operation in South Africa.
The lame amphibian went under the vet's knife after being bitten by a dog, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Owner Anne Mearns, 62, of Johannesburg, said: "People think I'm mad to care so much about a frog but I couldn't bear to see him in so much pain.
"Frogs are famous for their legs, so the thought of Brullie being left lame broke my heart. I knew without surgery he would never move again, so I to rushed to the vet and begged him to operate.
"The vet was more used to saving cats and dogs and couldn't understand why I was so worried about a frog, but he eventually agreed.
"It was a nervous few hours while we waited for him to come around after the op, but he's healing up now and hobbling about the garden. The x-rays suggest he'll be as good as new."
Mrs Mearns, a wildlife expert who writes teaching material for schools, believes the operation is the first time a frog has ever undergone surgery to replace a broken bone.
Brullie remained unconscious after the vet rubbed a tiny dose of watered-down dog anaesthetic into his porous skin.
The surgeon, who operated for free, then opened the damaged limb to insert the tiny steel rod over the snapped right leg bone.
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_3263270.html
See also: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5082594/Lame-frog-gets-his-leg-back-in-world-first-operation.html
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