Veterinary case
A Hanwoo calf born with malformed hips
⚠️ This information is provided for awareness only and does not replace an examination by a veterinarian.
🤖 Summary produced automatically from the scientific publication cited at the bottom of the page.
A premature calf limped from birth: tests revealed a severe malformation in both hips.
What happened?
This Hanwoo calf was born about a month premature, and from the start it struggled to walk properly. The owner first thought it was simply due to prematurity and waited for improvement. When nothing changed, a local vet applied splints on the front legs suspecting tendon stiffness, but the problems returned as soon as the splints were removed. The calf was then referred to a university clinic for a thorough check-up.
What did the vet find?
The calf could not stand on its own and walked unsteadily, mainly due to problems with its hip and left hind leg. X-rays and CT scans showed malformed hips on both sides, with very shallow joint sockets and underdeveloped femoral heads, especially on the left. An additional malformation was found in the left heel bone, with signs of arthritis in the joint. Blood tests for the calf and its mother were normal, and all tests for viruses that can cause this type of malformation came back negative, suggesting a genetic origin.
What did the vet do?
ℹ️ Treatment given to THIS animal, decided by its veterinarian. It is not a prescription: never apply it without veterinary advice.
No treatment could fix this hip malformation present since birth. The calf was returned to its mother at the owner's request, simply to be monitored. Five months later, as its condition worsened with weight gain and it could no longer move properly, the owner decided to stop care, and the vet performed humane euthanasia to spare it further suffering.
What happened next?
By 6 months, the calf's condition had clearly worsened: its right hip had dislocated and the left foot malformation was more visible. The post-mortem confirmed chronic dislocation of both hips with significant wear of the femoral heads, with no hope of recovery or a normal life.
Advice for the farmer
When a young animal is born premature and struggles to stand or walk, it is better to seek a full veterinary check-up quickly rather than wait for spontaneous improvement, especially if the problem persists after initial treatment.
Source
- Source
- PubMed Central
- Title
- Case Report: Integrated imaging and molecular diagnostic approach to congenital hip dysplasia in a Hanwoo calf.
- Authors
- Kim J, Choi W, Min K, Hong S, Choi S, Kim D, Ro Y.
- Year
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.3389/fvets.2026.1788631
- Licence
- CC BY
