Saint Mark, [24 Jul 2024 at 14:59:24]: Good day everyone. I was called to see a giraffe calf that a zoo had acquired. The neck is stiff and has a curve on it. The situation is quite emotional and distressing, but while the animal breathes, I would like to do my all to save it. Is anyone willing to chat me privately on this or should I just share here? Saint Mark, [24 Jul 2024 at 15:20:18]: You can see the crick on the neck Richard Burroughs Hi Mark. I have seen similar conditions in other species. There is some muscle damage/ collapse on the one side. Some roan or sable recover, others don’t. This can remain like this until adulthood. Attempts at therapy does not seem to make any difference. Saint Mark, This was the calf when it was brought in at barely a week old (poachers had killed the mother and umbilical was still attached but dry) Same animal today. You can see it’s barely grown at all so something must be horribly wrong nutrition Ulf Tubessing, 26 Jul 2024 I think this is more (capture) stress related than nutritional. In some darted giraffe we see this type of neck curving and then usually massage (hitting neck from both sides with fists). This usually resolves the problem and they are back to normal by the time they are loaded. The very occasional giraffe keeps a slight kink in the neck but seems to be doing OK. In January I posted a video of a very small, weak X legged and abnormal gait giraffe calf - well, she is still slightly stunted in growth but has near normal gait. Time is the best healer in nature. Not sure that human dry milk formula is the best solution. Search this group for fairly recent giraffe milk replacing recipe Henry Labuschagne, 24 July 2024 Take x ray to rule out discospondylitis. Saint Mark, [26 Jul 2024 at 09:45:07]: I would be very grateful if anyone can point me to the giraffe milk replacing recipes. Thanks so much in advance! Laura Rosen, 26 July 2024 :
