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Splayleg or rotational leg deformities in birds can involve various tissue types in the stifle, femur (upper thigh), tibiotarsus (main bone of the bird’s leg), and tarsometatarsus (large bone in lower leg of bird). It is possible to treat or repair this condition but the treatment or repair needs to be done as soon as possible in a young bird.
Rotational leg deformity, or splayleg, can describe many deformities of the legs of young birds. These deformities can include ligaments and angular deformities of various skeletal components of the bird’s legs.
Splayleg or rotational deformities can present in both young and older pet birds and these are some of the things which may be noticed in your pet bird:
Types
This malady of birds can be divided into several categories. The categories listed below apply specifically to the Psittacine family, but they can be applied, to some degree, to other species as well:
Congenital/developmental - Includes beak abnormalities, constricted toe syndrome, choanal atresia (closed, constricted or absent slit in roof of mouth), metabolic bone disease [MBD], crypto-ophthalmia (refers to deformity of upper lateral eyelid) and splayleg
Infectious - These types can be either viral or bacterial or both
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While the actual causes of splayleg or rotational deformity in birds are not well documented, there are some risk factors which have been found to at least contribute, if not cause, this condition in birds. Here are some of those risk factors:
Nutritional deficiencies - Dietary components are probably the most common - this risk factor can include birds of any age, not just young birds or hatchlings (metabolic bone disease (MBD) is caused by a calcium-phosphorus imbalance in the bird’s diet or inherited from the parents in the case of a hatchling or young bird, sometimes a vitamin D deficiency also can cause lower levels of calcium)
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When any of the above symptoms are noted, be sure to call your veterinary professional as soon as possible so that diagnosis and treatment can begin promptly. When your vet assesses your bird, he will need a complete history from you which outlines feeding, breeding, hatching and nesting specifics as well as any behaviors or changes you have noted and how long these behaviors and changes have been displayed. Your vet will do a thorough physical examination of the afflicted bird and will likely need to order some laboratory testing, utilizing various blood, fluid and tissue samples. When the lab reviews the samples, they will be looking not only for values of calcium/phosphorous ratio and vitamin D primarily but also for any comprehensive blood panel component which may be out of the norm for your bird species.
The lab will also be looking at the microbiological components of the flora in the digestive tract for clues (this is done by testing the bird’s excrement). Since splayleg and rotational leg deformity involves the skeletal system, radiographic imaging (x-ray) will also likely be employed to look at the structure of the long bones in the legs of your bird. Depending on what other signs and symptoms are found in the diagnostic process, CT imaging might also be utilized, especially if the condition is afflicting an older bird as opposed to a young bird or hatchling.
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Once your veterinary professional has gathered the necessary and available diagnostic information regarding your bird, he will develop a treatment plan appropriate to the cause of the splayleg, its stage of development and the your bird’s age. That treatment plan may encompass a variety of treatments, some of which are listed below:
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Recovery of your bird from splayleg or rotational leg deformity will depend on the age and the cause of the condition. The younger a bird is when the deformity is noted and treated, the better the prognosis. While the bird is young, the long bones in the legs may still be growing and may still be pliable enough to make the appropriate correction utilizing the best method determined to be available.
Nutritional and husbandry changes made at this level will help to strengthen the bones as they develop. You can’t help genetics but you can certainly be watchful of your hatchlings to catch developmental deficiencies and deformities as early as possible so that appropriate medical care can be given. In the case of your older birds, nutritional and husbandry changes can correct many of the causes of this condition.
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Ask a Vet
Kiwi
Lovebird
3 Months
Serious severity
0 found helpful
Serious severity
Has Symptoms
Hello. My Lovebird has dysplasia and can't use his legs at all. He's very weak. He's also very young and I don't know what to do. I took him to the vet but they couldn't help me either.
Aug. 2, 2018
Kiwi's Owner
0 Recommendations
Any treatment would depend on the underlying cause (nutritional, trauma, metabolic) and the severity; in many cases only medical and nutritional management may be given. I would recommend seeing an Avian Specialist if you have one nearby as without an examination I cannot give you any specific advice. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Aug. 2, 2018
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