By By Anne Sewell Nov 11, 2013 in World Achern - Schildi the tortoise was found recently in Germany, possibly abandoned by his owners and shy one leg. Now vets have fixed him up and have fitted a Lego wheel to help him get around. "He was in pretty bad shape when they brought him to us. The lower part of his front leg was missing, and the upper part was very bad, with bone showing, and maggots in necrotic flesh," said Azmanis. Once his health had improved, next step was to do something about the tortoise's mobility, or lack thereof. Vets amputated the injured leg at the shoulder, treating Schildi with antibiotics and fluids, and giving him painkillers. Next was to find a way to help him get around. "Tortoises need to run free in gardens, so he needed a prosthetic," said Azmanis. Schildi, an abandoned and disabled tortoise, gets a new lease on life with a Lego wheel. YouTube "First we fitted a double wheel but it was difficult for him to turn corners so we replaced it with a single wheel and that is much better for him." "After that we could add blocks to achieve the correct height," he said. "We will see him again once in a while for check-ups," Azmanis concluded. "If he gets a 'flat tire' it will be a simple matter to replace the wheel. They move around quite a lot so I'd expect to see him for a new wheel about once a year." Good news indeed for the little guy. Dr Panagiotis Azmanis, works at a veterinary practice in Achern in Baden, told The Local that initially, all efforts went into saving Schildi's life."He was in pretty bad shape when they brought him to us. The lower part of his front leg was missing, and the upper part was very bad, with bone showing, and maggots in necrotic flesh," said Azmanis.Once his health had improved, next step was to do something about the tortoise's mobility, or lack thereof. Vets amputated the injured leg at the shoulder, treating Schildi with antibiotics and fluids, and giving him painkillers.Next was to find a way to help him get around. "Tortoises need to run free in gardens, so he needed a prosthetic," said Azmanis. Azmanis came up with the idea to raid the practice manager's daughter's toy box for spares. Using wheels and spacer blocks, and using a special veterinary surgical glue to fix it in place, he was able to give the tortoise a whole new lease on life."First we fitted a double wheel but it was difficult for him to turn corners so we replaced it with a single wheel and that is much better for him.""After that we could add blocks to achieve the correct height," he said. The operation has been successful, and Schildi has now been returned to the animal shelter."We will see him again once in a while for check-ups," Azmanis concluded."If he gets a 'flat tire' it will be a simple matter to replace the wheel. They move around quite a lot so I'd expect to see him for a new wheel about once a year."Good news indeed for the little guy. More about Germany, Schildi, Tortoise, Disabled, lego wheel More news from Germany Schildi Tortoise Disabled lego wheel