Homemade construction helps piglet walk
Image: Chris P Bacon
Piglet gets second chance thanks to wheelchairA piglet that was born with a congenital defect, leaving him unable to use his back legs, has been given a homemade wheelchair to help him get around.
The 10-day-old piglet was brought to Eastside Veterinary Hospital in Clermont, Florida, to be put down, because his owner felt he would have a poor quality of life being unable to walk. However, vet Len Lucero, said he would keep the piglet alive as long as he could, if the owner would agree let him take the animal home.
Dr Lucero was given permission to take the otherwise healthy piglet, named Chris P Bacon, back to his family to see how he could give the animal a better life. After a long play together, he decided to construct hind support for Chris P Bacon out of K'Nex – his children's building set.
Though Dr Lucero said the animal didn't like the two-wheel harness at first, he has already adjusted to it, adding that the Walkin' Wheels organisation has donated a sturdier wheelchair for when Chris P Bacon gets bigger.
"Chris weighs two pounds so he is too small now but should grow into [the donated wheelchair] before long. For now we'll have to stick with K'Nex," he commented.
Click here to watch a video of the Chris P Bacon getting about using his wheels, which has received more than 180,000 views since it was posted on January 26.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
