Why not?
Kozmo’s results are due back Wednesday afternoon now. Or so I hear. We’ll see.
While we’re all waiting for his test results, I figured I might as well enlist some help. I have a feeling that he’ll be around a little while, but that he may not walk again. So I want some help building him a light-weight cart. I emailed a bunch of professors and mechanical engineering students at the Univ of Washington for help. Let’s see if anyone of them respond, shall we?
(Yes I am slightly koo koo for cocoapuffs, but I keep life interesting for you, don’t I?)
5 Comments
Tiff … This makes me think about Sebastian. Have you seen that story? They took some light weight PVC pipe, about 3/4 inch round and made 4 legs, attached to a light weight pipe frame. On the bottom of the legs were rollers, similar to the wheels on the bottom of an office chair, that rotated every direction for easy turning. The pipes fit well together with all the curves and turns needed for plumbing. You could sew a “hammock” to attach, with snaps, to the light frame and cut holes out of the bottom for his legs to hang thru. Keeps the little fella off his hocks. And keeps him mobile at the same time. Hollar if you need info.
Hugs and kisses to our little buddy. He is looking wonderful today!
Your VA friends,
Sugar Lily Webb and Lt Paddles Webb
(Sebastopol and Mallard)
Yup I know Sebastian. He passed away this year unfortunately. There’s also Lemon the Duck. Lemon has a book out now.
This would be a little different because he’s outdoors. I haven’t seen or heard of anything that I think is “right” for him just yet.
So far I am thinking something more like that penguin who wore the wetsuit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRKJQ15W_FY
A tight-fitting wetsuit plus two splints along the bottom, kind of like if you have ever worn a wrist guard that you can shape by bending the metal in them to the right shape? Attached to those slightly-shape-able metal splints on the bottom would be wheels… like maybe rollerblade trucks? Just high-enough to get him off the ground and high-enough to keep him moving on grass. He needs to use his beak to propel himself forward. I think he could turn by picking himself up and turning, like he does now.
I wish I could find some SUPER-light wheels to hook to the bottom of the suit so he could swim. An amphibious wetsuit with wheels.
Thanks for the note.
I think somekind of matting with enclosed marbles or light balls would work too.
Or a contiuous track like tanks have. I’ll looks around, maybe we can find something.
But the suit sounds great too!
Why not, indeed. There’s got to be a professor out there who will take up the challenge. I think most professors can relate to being koo koo for cocoa puffs.
I would think that the only problem with a wetsuit for Kozmo is his dislike of being handled. It would have to be removed regularly to make sure he’s not getting any sores from it etc…
If he is put into a sling device he would need to be able to shift his weight or he would be at risk of developing whatever the duck equivalent of bed-sores would be. It may be worth your while to contact a veterinary school too. I’ve seen avian and reptile vets do amazing things with prosthetic type devices for birds and turtles and such.
Sending lots of warm-fuzzy-feel-betters to Kozmo (and you too!)