This information is brought to you by the dogs and chickens here on the farm. We have something we want to share with you about why we can make entries and the alpacas can not. It is all about the feet. Chickens have feet, dogs have paws, even the cat has paws. Alpacas have TOES. And only two of them! They can’ type!
Have you ever watched them walk? Cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses have hooves-but not llamas or alpacas They have a padded covering on the bottom of the foot with a toenail at the end. This is unique among the ruminating species and it is the reason that foot care and toenail trimming are so important for herd health.
Camelids and ruminants belong to the order Tylopoda-which is Latin for padded foot. The padded foot minimizes damage to the terrain. The splayed toes increase stability and sure-footedness. The surface that touches the ground is a soft, cornified layer of epithelium called the sole or slipper. There is a separate slipper for each digit and these are joined at the heel. The camelid stance is called a modified digitigrade, similar to dogs and cats, with locomotion on the digits. True ruminants and horses are unguligrade, walking on the tips of their toes (only the last toe contacts the ground). When an alpaca paces the limbs touching the ground at the same time are on the same side of the body.
If you find this interesting there is a lot more info in the Alpacas Magazine, spring 2009, in an article written by Sue Alt DMV and David E Anderson, DVM.
We will continue to bring you updates. Best wishes from the farm and try to let your heart rest.