The objective of this study was to diagnose, treat and monitor the occurrence of acquired carpal angular limb deformities (ALD) in a herd of mules. The treatment was determined by the degrees of angulation (DA) measured during the radiological examination. Members with DA ≤3° were subjected to hoof trimming (TC); DA >3° and ≤7° were treated with hemicircunfential transection and elevation of the periosteum and hoof trimming (TEP); DA >7° were subjected to the same measures adopted in the group TEP associated with transphyseal staple (GTF). The DA was monitored by radiography obtained 45 days before treatment (T0), at the start of treatment (T1) and 30 (T2) and 60 (T3) after its establishment. The incidence of affected mules was 37.1%, in which the demand for surgical treatment was higher than that reported in horses. The occurrence of DA in this herd was due to the training program established. Between T0 and T1 there was no variation of the DA. In the TEP group, the reduction of DA in T2 was similar to those reported in horses, but the improvement occurred in less time and in mules at the age of 7.9 months. The DA at T3 in the GTF was not satisfactory, probably due to the high average age of this group. It was concluded that the exercises resulted in the incidence of DA in mules. The adopted treatment in the TEP group was able to reduce the DA, despite the age of mules.
carpal; mules; valgus; varus
