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Homemade construction helps piglet walk
Image: Chris P Bacon
Piglet gets second chance thanks to wheelchair

A 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.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."