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Toy car fitted to three-legged tortoise in Bristol | Toy car fitted to three-legged tortoise in Bristol |
(35 minutes later) | |
Part of a toy car has been fitted to a tortoise to help it get around after losing a leg. | Part of a toy car has been fitted to a tortoise to help it get around after losing a leg. |
Touche's back leg was removed after an accident at its home last week. | |
Vet Sonya Miles said: "We decided to attach the wheel to avoid him traumatising the underside of his shell by dragging his back end." | Vet Sonya Miles said: "We decided to attach the wheel to avoid him traumatising the underside of his shell by dragging his back end." |
Since the surgery on Friday, his owner Lisa Purnell said Touche was doing well. | Since the surgery on Friday, his owner Lisa Purnell said Touche was doing well. |
Staff at Highcroft Veterinary Hospital in Whitchurch used a special resin to attach the base of a toy car to the plastron [the underside of the shell]. | Staff at Highcroft Veterinary Hospital in Whitchurch used a special resin to attach the base of a toy car to the plastron [the underside of the shell]. |
Ms Miles said: "It can be taken off in the future if we feel that he has enough strength to hold himself up but he could be fine with a wheel for the rest of his life. | Ms Miles said: "It can be taken off in the future if we feel that he has enough strength to hold himself up but he could be fine with a wheel for the rest of his life. |
"He may even need a bigger one fitted at some point; tortoises carrying on growing until they are 10-15 years old so he could still double in size." | "He may even need a bigger one fitted at some point; tortoises carrying on growing until they are 10-15 years old so he could still double in size." |
Ms Purnell said the tortoise seemed "completely relaxed with his new mode of transport, zooming around the garden as if nothing has happened". | Ms Purnell said the tortoise seemed "completely relaxed with his new mode of transport, zooming around the garden as if nothing has happened". |