Gernot Redeker, 22 October 2024 Afternoon all These giraffe have standing in boma for 4 days, eating peanut hay. Any suggestions as to why their feet swell up? Thank you Ulf Tubessing, [22 Oct 2024 at 17:26:16]: What is the general condition of the giraffe? It could be the result of hypoproteinaemia and no exercise in boma resulting in reduced circulation Roy Bengis, [22 Oct 2024 at 18:19:31]: Giraffe skin is high in elastin and acts as a GSuit, massaging blood and lymph from distal sites back into the central circulation. Boma physical inactivity may be playing a role in this case. HO Reuter, [23 Oct 2024 at 07:04:09]: Are they pacing a lot? I think with walking and turning, joints take strain. I have seen joints swelling in giraffe quite often. Sometimes they progress to septic arthritis. Also, if the joints get knocked at loading and develop into an open injury, they often get infected in boma. Ulf Tubessing, [23 Oct 2024 at 07:22:56]: The fact that all 4 limbs are affected points to a systemic rather than localised (trauma/septic arthritis) lesion. At this time of year in severe drought, almost certain malnutrition. Years ago, we lost all 4 giraffe that were released onto a massive island in the Congo river. All went well at offloading, but within 10 days all were dead, showing severe oedema of all 4 limbs up to near carpal/hock joints. Unfortunately, no vets were around, so no postmortem examination was done. I suspected some cardiotoxic plant, but could also not find a plant expert/toxicologist familiar with plants in the area to give his opinion. As Roy mentioned, veins in distal limbs of giraffe are specially adapted to cope with blood transport back to central circulation.
