This Legendary Veterinarian From Rajasthan Invented Prosthetic Legs For Animals – Helped Over 500 Animals!

We all love having pets and playing with them. Even stray dogs or cats become our companions if we give them some care. But still, some careless acts leave these animals, especially the stray animals disabled for a lifetime. Moreover, no one worried about their survival. But there is one legendary vet who has become the messiah for these disabled animals.

For the first time in India, this veterinarian has launched a prosthetic leg for animals. Meet Dr. Tapesh Mathur from Rajasthan who is credited with the invention of Krishna Limb, the first prosthetic leg and has been continuing this initiative since 2015.

Let’s unfold the journey and the challenges faced by this legendary vet, Dr Tapesh Mathur with Mad4India.

Who is Dr. Tapesh Mathur?

Dr Tapesh Mathur is a Jaipur-based veterinarian surgeon who works in the Rural veterinary polyclinic in Jaipur. Born and raised in Rajasthan, Dr. Tapesh has completed his education at the College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Bikaner, Rajasthan. In the past 16 years, he has served in various rural and urban veterinary hospitals including the State Cattle Commission and Goshala.

He is also the secretary on deputation at Go Sewa Ayog and has launched many schemes that helped the state cattle commission to become self-sufficient. This veterinarian was also the chief architect of govt. plan for free medicine in animal husbandry.

Dr Tapesh also set a record by operating 80 critical cows in a year when he was posted at Jaipur Nagar Nigam Gaushala. He is also the key mentor of the Save Bird Campaign and has operated on and treated wounded vultures and other birds by stitching their wings to help them fly back. This veterinarian has also treated large and wild animals such as elephants and horses. He has also started a new mission to implant prosthetic legs for disabled animals.

Krishna Limb, the first Prosthetic Leg for an animal

As a professional veterinarian, Dr. Tapesh used to see numerous cases of animals who were injured and lost their limbs due to accidents. Mostly, cows would lose their limb in vehicle accidents, although he used to treat these animals by doing surgeries on them. But Dr Tapesh always used to worry about the future of these animals and if their owners abandoned them, then how would they survive?

So, he decided to secure the future of these amputated animals and his determination led to the invention of the first prosthetic leg for animals, “Krishna Limb.”

Journey

This Veterinarian, Dr Tapesh started his journey of creating the prosthetic limb in year 2015. In a small room of his workshop, he used to research how prosthetic limbs can be made for animals. Then he did his first surgery of a prosthetic leg for a calf named Krishna.

When a 2-year-old injured calf named Krishna was brought to his polyclinic. Her accident was so severe that to save her life, her leg needed to be amputated. Dr. Tapesh was so worried and desperate to help the little calf that he decided to attempt fixing a prosthetic leg on leg 2023. Well, it was not an easy process because animals fiddle and try to get rid of that leg.

Initially, Krishna also felt fidgety and uncomfortable but after 15 days of physiotherapy, she got accustomed to the limb. Then the moment came when she started walking and running with that prosthetic leg which was a joyous moment for Dr Tapesh.

After this successful surgery, This veterinarian, Dr Tapesh and his wife Shipra Mathur decided to start an initiative of implanting prosthetic legs in animals. They named their initiative after the name of the little calf, “Krishna LImb.”

Challenges

Creating the prosthetic legs was not an easy process, this veterinarian had to struggle as initially, he was alone and he did all the work from design to production by himself at his home workshop, in Mansarovar, Jaipur.

1. Expenses and raising funds

This Veterinarian is doing his work selflessly as he did not charge a penny for those prosthetic legs that cost him around Rs. 4500- Rs. 5000. Well, there is a need for raising funds as the materials used in the production of prosthetic legs are expensive. Polypropylene used for manufacturing prosthetic limbs, is only supplied in bulk by suppliers and for that, Dr. Tapesh used his savings.

To manage the costs, he and his wife, Shipra Mathur founded the Pen Media Foundation funded by them as they have used their savings. This foundation also accepts funds and donations from the people for animal welfare.

2. Visiting Animals in remote areas

After getting the material, it is important to get the measurements of the animals for their prosthetic leg to fit them. That’s when another challenge faced by this Veterinarian is that he has to visit the animals living in remote areas as his patients cannot be brought to him. The fact is that he has to pay many visits to the animals even after surgery as a 15-day physiotherapy session is also needed for the animal to get accustomed to the prosthetic limb.

Legendary Veterinarian of India, Dr. Tapesh Mathur

In a world where animals get easily abandoned after their accidents, Dr Tapesh Mathur is that beacon of hope for those animals by providing them the prosthetic limbs. Till now, he has helped more than 500 animals like dogs, cattle and horses with the implantation of prosthetic legs from various states.

This legendary veterinarian has revolutionised animal science by launching prosthetic legs for animals especially for heavy animals like cows and horses too. Till now, he was only making prosthetic limbs for below-knee amputee animals but now with in-depth research, he is all set to launch the prosthetic limbs for above-knee amputee animals.

Presently, Dr. Tapesh Mathur and his wife, Shipra travel from place to place and provide treatment to the animals who get wounded due to accidents and are also supporting the people who genuinely care for the animals. His initiative and inventions are giving new life to the amputee animals and making their life easier while putting their best foot forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

For copyright purposes, here are links to the feature images- 1, 2, 3

If you loved reading about Dr Tapesh and his innovative invention of the Prosthetic leg for animals, then do have a look at Know Why Dinesh MN, An Honorable IPS Officer, Was Put Behind Bars For 7 Years!

If you know more inspirational stories about any person, company, new idea, or social initiative, write to us at mad4india.com, or share such information with us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram.