Clinical signs of bowed legs and swaying gait suggest the presence of osteochondrosis. Epiphyseolysis should be suspected where gilts are delivered lame or where they become lame suddenly at or around service.

Dec 15, 2010 · Pig veterinarian, Mark White, describes the causes, prevention and treatment of the various types of splay-leg in a Health Bulletin from NADIS.

Structural unsoundness in pigs includes buckling of the knees, bowed legs, splayed legs, post leggedness, weak pasterns, uneven toe size, pigeon toes, and sickle hocks. Pigs may also exhibit swollen joints, goose stepping, and a general lack of freedom in movement.

Leg weakness affects growers, finishers, sows and boars with various causes being genetic, rapid growth, lack of exercise and a nutritional imbalance. The noticeable effects will be difficulty in rising or walking, swaying and misshapen limbs.

Mildly affected pigs have disturbed gait with swaying of the hips or the legs may be bowed. Pigs which are lame may stand with the back arched, all four feet tucked under the body and the head down to reduce the weight on the feet.

The most common form of the condition is hindleg splays; the back legs splay out sideways and forward, causing the pig great difficulty in standing on its hind end. Many will "dog sit" and shuffle around on their backsides.

In rickets cases, limbs are stunted and bowed, joints are swollen, and the head may seem disproportionately large. Long bones of the limbs can spontaneously fracture, making the pig severely lame and unwilling to move.

The back legs splay out sideways and forward causing the pig great difficulty in standing on its hind end. Many will "dog sit" and shuffle around on their backsides. This can lead to considerable trauma to the skin of the perineum and vulva and secondary infection.

This abnormality of neonatal piglets is characterized by lateral extension of the hind legs with inability to adduct the legs; front legs may be variably affected. The principle lesion in affected muscles is myofibrillar hypoplasia related in part to delayed development, and in part to degenerative change.

This is a condition in which the newborn piglet is unable to keep its legs together. Alternative names: abduction of the legs syndrome, splayed legs disease