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Baby giraffe receives special shoes at Woodland Park Zoo

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An adorable baby giraffe has been given special blue shoes to help realign its legs. The youngster was born to his mom, Olivia, on Thursday May 2 and had to have his legs radiographed after vets at Woodland Park Zoo, in Seattle, noticed his rear feet were not in normal alignment. Specialists then applied casts to his legs to help stabilize his limbs a day after he was born. Following a consultation with colleagues at other zoos, the exhibit team consisting of artists and builders, then crafted a pair of special shoes. The unique footwear, which will help the baby to get more traction as he stumbles around with this mother, are made of high-density polyethylene and plywood. Associate zoo veterinarian Dr Tim Storms said: "The condition is known as hyperextended fetlocks. It is well documented in horses and has been reported to occur in giraffes. At this stage, the new therapeutic shoes are on a trial basis but I'm hopeful that they will help him walk better. We'll continue refining and improving our approach to find a good balance between supporting his limbs and strengthening his tendons." The treatment is expected to last over several months for the still-unnamed calf. 09 May 2019 Pictured: Baby giraffe receives special shoes at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo credit: Dwyer-Lindgren/WPZ/MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342

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An adorable baby giraffe has been given special blue shoes to help realign its legs - 09 May 2019
An adorable baby giraffe has been given special blue shoes to help realign its legs. The youngster was born to his mom, Olivia, on Thursday May 2 and had to have his legs radiographed after vets at Woodland Park Zoo, in Seattle, noticed his rear feet were not in normal alignment. Specialists then applied casts to his legs to help stabilize his limbs a day after he was born. Following a consultation with colleagues at other zoos, the exhibit team consisting of artists and builders, then crafted a pair of special shoes. The unique footwear, which will help the baby to get more traction as he stumbles around with this mother, are made of high-density polyethylene and plywood. Associate zoo veterinarian Dr Tim Storms said: "The condition is known as hyperextended fetlocks. It is well documented in horses and has been reported to occur in giraffes. At this stage, the new therapeutic shoes are on a trial basis but I'm hopeful that they will help him walk better. We'll continue refining and improving our approach to find a good balance between supporting his limbs and strengthening his tendons." The treatment is expected to last over several months for the still-unnamed calf. 09 May 2019 Pictured: Baby giraffe receives special shoes at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo credit: Dwyer-Lindgren/WPZ/MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342