Puppy Mauled in Dog Fight Gets First Ever 3D-Printed Mask to Help Save Her Life

UC Davis biomedical engineering students and veterinary surgeons created a 3D printed mask designed to be used as a cast for a dog’s fractured skull.

Because of a special 3D-printed face mask, a 4-month-old puppy survived severe facial injuries after being mauled by a dog.

Loca recently arrived at the UC Davis Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in California with a crushed cheekbone, a fractured jawbone, and extensive damage to her temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Her face and neck were also punctured with multiple puncture wounds.

To reconstruct the face of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy, a difficult and complex surgery would be required. The veterinarian surgeons, on the other hand, were up to the task and had an innovative new tool to aid her recovery.

Loca was fitted for a special face mask – an Exo-K9 Exoskeleton – after her surgery, which was custom-printed for her by biomedical engineering students at the school. Loca was the ideal first candidate because the team had been working on a prototype when she arrived at the hospital.

The face mask was custom fitted for her (via CT scan) and helped to keep her jawbone in place while she healed, thanks to 3D printing technology.

UC Davis School wrote, “Loca did extremely well throughout her 3-day hospitalization.” “She started eating soft foods almost immediately and was able to stay comfortable on her pain medications. In addition to the Exo-K9, Loca was given a padded neck bandage to help stabilize her neck fracture and limit her range of motion while she recovers.”

“Loca was not allowed access to any toys, bones, or anything else hard to chew for the next month,” the vets said. “She wore her mask and neck collar at all times except when she ate or drank. “Until her injuries healed, she was fed a soft diet.”