Veterinarian Builds a Custom LEGO Wheelchair for an Injured Turtle

Some people really think outside the box, always striving to find solutions even when it's not their job. Dr. Karsten Plischke, inspired by his genuine care and creative thinking, not only devised an effective solution for a struggling turtle but also implemented it with success. 

Using his remarkable ingenuity, the veterinarian constructed a special ‘wheelchair’ from spare LEGO parts to help the unfortunate turtle move with ease. The turtle was brought to Dr. Plischke by its owner, Iris Fast, after she noticed its slow and labored movement. It later emerged that the cause was an accumulation of maggots and parasites affecting its limbs, compounded by growth problems that weakened its legs, making walking painful and difficult. 

The inspiration for this unique wheelchair came when the vet stumbled upon his young son’s extra LEGO pieces. After pondering the idea for several days, he dared to put it into action. "Humans have various aids like walkers, wheelchairs, and prosthetics, but animals don’t have that privilege. With each animal being unique, there’s no one-size-fits-all commercial solution for them, so adapting something like this feels almost impossible," he explained. 

And here’s how it looks:

The vet in action

The turtle 'walking' with its new wheels