In a heartwarming milestone that blends science with compassion, Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ), Visakhapatnam, has successfully completed its first-ever prosthetic limb fitment for a pet. This pioneering achievement, carried out on 4th April 2025, marks a new chapter in animal rehabilitation in India. The initiative was led by the Artificial Limb Centre(ALC) and the Animal Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) whose combined expertise and dedication made this groundbreaking success possible.
Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ), established in 2016 in Visakhapatnam, is India’s first dedicated medical device manufacturing park. Spread across 270 acres, AMTZ provides plug-and-play manufacturing units, advanced testing laboratories, research hubs, and standard scientific facilities. AMTZ aims to reduce India’s dependence on imported medical devices and support indigenous manufacturing capabilities. AMTZ played a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic by manufacturing ventilators, oxygen concentrators, and RT-PCR test kits. It continues to evolve as a centre for innovation in healthcare technology, including digital health, diagnostics, and veterinary care.
Pet Prosthetic Fitment Project
The Artificial Limb Centre (ALC) at AMTZ completed its first prosthetic limb fitment for a pet on April 4th, 2025. The initiative marks a significant step in extending medical device applications to animal rehabilitation in India. The prosthetic limb was developed and fitted for a pet dog, Bhairava, that had lost mobility due to injury. The design used polypropylene material for durability. It included a soft inner liner for comfort and an anti-skid base to assist the animal in walking and running.
The Artificial Limb Centre (ALC) and the Animal Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) jointly executed the project under AMTZ. The two units collaborated to combine expertise in prosthetic engineering and veterinary rehabilitation.
The dog’s owner, KA Tulasi, stated that after the injury, the dog had lost mobility, and hope for recovery was minimal. The successful fitment enabled the dog to walk again. “Watching our dog walk again filled us with joy. After his injury, we had lost hope, but the team at AMTZ gave him a second chance at life”, said Tulasi.
Following this initial success, the ALC and ARC plan to expand services to cover more animals, including different pet species and potentially stray animals. The goal is to become a veterinary orthotics and prosthetics centre in India. Facilities such as the 3D printing lab and biomechanics testing center were utilized for the prosthetic project. The infrastructure allowed for precise customization based on the animal’s anatomy.
A Pioneering Step in Animal Care
The ALC plans to develop prosthetics for other animals, including cats, cows, and birds. Each prosthetic will be designed based on the animal’s mobility and anatomical requirements. Plans are also being made to introduce training modules for veterinarians and biomedical engineers in animal prosthetics. These programs aim to build skilled manpower in this new field.
AMTZ intends to work with veterinary hospitals, animal welfare NGOs, and government bodies. This outreach aims to ensure access to veterinary prosthetic services in urban and rural areas. Speaking on the occasion, the team emphasized that this fitment is just the beginning. “We are committed to expanding our services to benefit many needy animals. Our mission is to ensure that no life is left behind due to mobility challenges—human or animal.”
The successful pet prosthetic fitment by AMTZ’s Artificial Limb Centre and Animal Rehabilitation Centre represents a new application of medical device technology in India. It opens up possibilities for structured animal rehabilitation using prosthetics. AMTZ continues to strengthen its role as a national innovation hub, enabling healthcare and rehabilitation solutions across sectors, with a commitment to inclusivity and technology-driven impact.
