Llama's Feet - Trimming Toenails

Feet & Toenail Trimming

Toenail Trimming Dropped Pastern Pad Problems

Toenail Trimming .....
The llama's foot has a soft, leatherly-like pad on the bottom and two toes covered with a hard toenail. The leg and the lower joint, called the pastern, should come up at a right angle from the foot. Soft or dropped pasterns can result in arthritis and be very painful for the animal. Llamas don't usually have a lot of problems with their feet or legs nor do they need a lot of special care. However, the toenails do need to be trimmed once or twice a year.

Very Long, Overgrown Toenails

Toenail trimming should be part of your routine herd management program. Just how often a llama's nails need trimming depends on each animal and also the surfaces they walk on. If they walk over concrete or are on the trail a lot, their nails will file down somewhat and probably need trimming less often than those animals that are on soft pasture all the time. Some animal's nails just seem to grow faster than others regardless of the surfaces they walk on. Although some llamas may be desensitized or trained so well that you may be able to pick up their feet and trim their nails with no problem, other llamas will need a restraint of some kind. Even when placed in a chute of some kind, some llamas will give you no problem and be very agreeable to trimming their nails. I recommend not doing this procedure in extremely hot weather or in late gestation as the animal will probably not be too agreeable to being bothered. Front Leg: Standing at the llama's side facing toward his tail, begin by touching the llama high on the leg and giving him the command "foot" (or whatever you may have used when training) to let him know what your intentions are. If you just bend down and grab his leg out from under him, he probably will be frightened and will not be co-operative at all. Being completely relaxed yourself, somewhat slowly, but firmly, work your hand down his leg, asking for his foot, take it by the ankle, and lift it straight up and back, bending his leg at the knee as the leg would normally bend. Don't pull it up extremely high or out to the side....this may be painful and also may put the animal off balance. The animal will respond much better if you bend down to do the trimming and not raise his foot up to your height. This position is harder on your back but results in much more positive results. Let his foot relax in the palm of your hand a couple of seconds before you start the trimming. This gives the animal time to relax, time to listen to your calm voice commands, and time to realize that you don't intend to hurt him. If he struggles to pull away, try to hold the leg gently until he stops jerking (keep giving him commands to "stand" and "foot"). It may be helpful to put your shoulder into his body for a more secure hold. When he stops trying to pull his leg away, relax your hold and let the leg or foot just rest in the palm of your hand for a second while your speak calmly to him. Let him know that you're gentle and not going to hurt him. He may fear that you're going to pull his legs out from under him since his legs are an important means of self defense. Flight, or running, is a main defense of this species. Back Leg: Very similar to above, face toward his tail, rub high on his leg and with a firm, authoritative motion, move down his leg while talking to him. Pick up the foot bending the leg at the stifle joint straight back. Again, don't pull the leg out to the side or up high. Bend way over and trim low. If he is alarmed, hold the leg until he calms down and then proceed with the trimming. Long nails will extend beyond the pad on the foot. If extremely long, they will fold over or curve causing lameness or pain. You want to trim the nail back just even with the pad using a nail trimmer similar to pruning shears. Trim the sides of the nail even with the pad in two or three cuts or whatever is needed. Then make one final cut across the point taking care not to cut into the pad or the quick. If cut too short, the nail will bleed, will be painful, and could possibly get infected. If you do see blood, go ahead and finish the trimming being careful not to get that close again. The bleeding will have probably stopped by the time you have finished. If not, apply pressure and disinfect with some iodine. There also is a Blood Stopping Powder if bleeding continues. This product works well, but it will stain floor surfaces.

Trimming the Nails

Long nails extend beyond the pad.	Trim along each side of the nail.
Trim the sides of the nail taking off small pieces at a time. Trim until the nail is even with the pad of the foot.	After trimming the side, trim across the top so the nail is even with the pad.
Lastly, cut off the pointed tip of the nail.	A finished toenail trimming!
A nice pedicure!	The quick is the living flesh under the fingernail or toenail that is highly sensitive to pain. When the nail is cut too short, there will be some blood.

Dropped Pasterns .....
Upright, Vertical Pastern	Soft or Dropped Pastern	Completely Dropped Pastern
The pastern is the area between the fetlock and the foot. An area of tendons and ligaments, the pastern is the shock absorber for the fetlock. When viewed from the side, the pasterns should be vertical with very little angle. When an angle starts to develop in the pastern, it is termed a "soft pastern" and the animal is considered unsound. Although the animal's movement may not be hindered or he may not appear to be in any pain, he should be retired from packing, driving, or excessive activities at this time. You'll probably notice the animal selecting a slower pace and not wanting to run. As time goes on, the pastern can completely "drop" as seen in the one photograph. Arthritis can set in the compromised joint and result in a painful condition. Although this soft pastern is seen in some older animals, many animals are still very upright and strong in their old age. The cause is thought to be possibly hereditary, or possibly the animal started packing too much weight at an early age, or perhaps started cart driving too early, or even perhaps caused by carrying extra weight through numerous pregnancies. Obviously, an animal that is overweight may have more problems in this area. There are some horse products containing glucosamine that may offer the llama some relief if added to their diet.

Pad Problems ..... Occasionally, when the weather has been exceptionally wet and muddy, llamas and alpacas will develop a condition on the pads of their feet that some owners refer to as "foot rot". The pads will get areas that are sloughing off or peeling and may actually get areas with holes in the pad. Examine closely - you may smell the odor of an infection. This condition may possibly be a fungus from the wet, muddy weather. For treatment of this condition on their pads, we wash well with a Batadine Scrub and then apply Kopertox which has a drying affect. If this treatment is done daily, you will probably see results quickly. If the foot is in extremely poor condition, first apply the Koppertox and then apply a coating of Ichthammol, a thick tar-like salve which has a drawing effect. Put a medical pad bandage over the pad and wrap the foot with vet wrap to hold the pad in place and to keep it dry. When conditions are wet, it would be best to move the animal to a dry area or stall. Apply this treatment daily. You should see improvement very soon. Some owners suggest using a carpet remnant soaked with a diluted Clorox at the entrance to their barn as a preventive of this condition during periods of wet weather. As the animals walk on the carpet, the Clorox solution tends to dry out their feet and also sanitize them from any fungus that may be starting.

Treatment for the Pad
Growth out to the side of pad.		Growth on the bottom of pad.
Trimming off the bottom tissue. This is not painful to the animal.		Trimming the side tissue.
Dish is a clorox/water bath to soak foot.		After Trimming

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