ABOUT THE OSTRICH
General Information
The ostrich shown in Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals is the common ostrich. Its scientific name is Struthio camelus.
Ostriches and Skinned Knees
Do ostriches REALLY fall and skin their knees?
Fact
Yes! However, ostriches are built for running, so they do not fall very often. Their wings help them keep their balance and make quick turns even when running at top speeds– up to 45 miles per hour. More often than not, ostriches get cuts on their legs from fighting not from falling.
Fun Fact
While it may look like an ostrich’s knees face backward, what looks like a knee facing backward is actually a heel. Attached below the heel is a very long foot followed by two toes with claws. The actual knees of an ostrich are up so high they are typically hidden under the body feathers. You can see this in the diagram below. The knee is called a patella.
Causes
Just like humans, ostriches may fall while running when there is a big change in the terrain, such as going from a solid path into bushes.
Symptoms
The ostrich will move slowly and not put too put much weight on the leg.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis is made by closer observation. There may be broken bones or torn ligaments or tendons if there is no apparent wound on the leg. This can be determined using X-rays.
Treatments
The treatment for a wound on the leg of an ostrich is similar to the treatment for people. A veterinarian will wash the wound, apply a veterinary-recommended antibiotic cream, and then a bandage over that. For minor wounds, a veterinarian may apply medical-grade manuka honey followed by a bandage. Wound management is commonly necessary because ostriches frequently get traumatic injuries on their legs from fighting.
Fiction
In the book, Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals, Rosie puts Manuka honey on the ostrich’s skinned knee because Manuka honey kills germs. When veterinarians use Manuka honey for minor wounds, it is pharmaceutical-grade Manuka honey cream. Typically, however, veterinarians use antibiotic creams on wounds.
LEARN MORE
5 Different Types of Ostriches
References
Miller, R. E., & Fowler, M. E. (2015). Fowler’s Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine (8th ed., pp. 606-607). Elsevier Saunders.
Image Credit: iStock.com/JohnCarnemolla
