Prosthetic Pioneer Zeus Dies

Zeus, a Siberian husky who received a prosthetic leg at NC State last year, died following a brief illness April 12. He was 6.

In a message to the NC State community, Zeus’ family praised the doctors in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital who tried to save him during his recent illness.

They also thanked Dr. Denis Marcellin-Little, the veterinary surgeon who led a multidisciplinary team that created and attached the prosthetic leg last spring in a groundbreaking surgical procedure.

“Dr. Marcellin-Little is a remarkable and caring and loving doctor and we want to thank him for giving Zeus the ability to sit up and run like a normal dog for his last year on this earth,” wrote Raymond Vandall. “He was very proud of his new front foot. Once again, thank all of you for caring about our boy Zeus.”

NC State is the only university in the world that can manufacture custom prosthetics for veterinary patients in house, thanks to the close collaboration between veterinarians and engineers.

Read more about the surgery.