Kangaroo gait in ewes (female sheep) is a polyneuropathy that primarily affects the radial nerves, leading to weakness in the forelimbs. As a result, the ewe bears most of its weight on its hind legs and moves with a characteristic hopping gait when pressed to move.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
- Affected Animals: Primarily seen in lactating ewes.
- Underlying Cause: A polyneuropathy, meaning multiple nerves are affected. The radial nerves in the forelimbs are particularly vulnerable.
- Symptoms:
- Weak forelimbs.
- Weight shifted to hind legs.
- Hopping gait, resembling a kangaroo, when forced to move.
- Prognosis: In most cases, ewes recover after lactation ceases.
- Example: The provided references mentions a report of three cases of kangaroo gait in lactating ewes.
In essence, kangaroo gait isn't a normal gait, but rather a symptom of a nerve-related condition causing weakness and altered movement in sheep.
