Book a vet visit soon
Not usually an emergency, but it needs a diagnosis and a plan.
Crooked legs in crias (knock knees, bowed legs), from prematurity, rickets or inherited problems.
- Category
- Cria (newborn) problems
- Urgency
- Book a vet visit soon
Signs & symptoms
- Knees angled inward or outward
- Fetlocks rolling
- Abnormal wear on toenails
What causes it?
Prematurity, lax ligaments, rickets, uneven growth plate development, genetics.
Risk factors
- Premature crias
- Vitamin D deficiency
How vets diagnose it
Physical exam and radiographs.
Treatment
Many mild cases correct with controlled exercise and trimming; some need splints or surgery.
Prevention
- Vitamin D supplementation in northern regions
- Early evaluation of any crooked cria
Background
Angular limb deformity is a pathological deformity in the spatial alignment of any limb in quadrupedal animals. The term encompasses any condition in such an animal wherein a limb is not straight. It most commonly occurs in the carpal joint of the forelimbs, manifesting as the limb pointing outward or inward, deviating from normal development.From Wikipedia — “Angular limb deformity”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Research & references
PubMed lists 8 peer-reviewed papers on this topic in camelids. The most relevant include:
- Orthopedic conditions of small ruminants. Llama, sheep, goat, and deer. Kaneps AJ The Veterinary clinics of North America. Food animal practice, 1996. PubMed 8705803 · DOI · cited 25×
- Surgical correction of metacarpophalangeal valgus deformity in an alpaca. Parry AJ, Dart AJ Australian veterinary journal, 2007. PubMed 17760941 · DOI · cited 2×
- Prevalence of coat colour traits and congenital disorders of South American camelids in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Jost SM, Knoll A, Lühken G et al. Acta veterinaria Scandinavica, 2020. PubMed 32948208 · DOI · Free full textOpen access · cited 6×
- Bilateral metatarsophalangeal valgus and subluxation in two adult llamas treated by medial bone plate arthrodesis. Woodford N, D'Alterio GL, Owen M The Veterinary record, 2007. PubMed 17322358 · DOI · cited 4×
- Surgical correction of bilateral metacarpophalangeal valgus with curved osteotomies and type II external skeletal fixation in a seven-month-old alpaca. Schoonover MJ, Whitfield CT, Rochat MC et al. Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology : V.C.O.T, 2016. PubMed 27468804 · DOI · cited 1×
- Angular limb deformities in young llamas. Fowler ME Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 1982. PubMed 7174455 · cited 6×
Frequently asked questions
What is angular Limb Deformities in alpacas?
Crooked legs in crias (knock knees, bowed legs), from prematurity, rickets or inherited problems.
What are the signs of angular Limb Deformities?
Knees angled inward or outward, fetlocks rolling and abnormal wear on toenails.
How do you prevent angular Limb Deformities?
Vitamin D supplementation in northern regions. Early evaluation of any crooked cria.
Is angular Limb Deformities an emergency?
Book a vet visit soon. Not usually an emergency, but it needs a diagnosis and a plan.
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.