Is my alpaca healthy?

Health monitoring and first aid kit for alpacas

Every pet owner hopes to keep their pet healthy and in good shape. However, no matter how hard we try, there will always be pathogens in the environment that can enter the body and cause disease. Sometimes it is imported, the animals come into contact with it for the first time, as a result of which they are not immune to it; at other times, the cause may be a decrease in the immunity of the animals and pathogens in the environment on a daily basis become virulent. It should be remembered that the alpaca, as a prey animal in the food chain, poorly manifests disease symptoms, and when they are very visible the condition can already be serious. Also, even if we maintain all safety rules in the place where our herd stays, sometimes injuries and accidents occur. Their cause can be, for example, fights between males (especially if they have tusks), protruding elements in the fences, damaged netting, leaving objects dangerous to them within the reach of the animals (e.g., a string of hay, improperly deposited rakes), and sometimes even curiosities like a thicker blade of hay stuck in the gum or eye. In zootechnical terminology, injuries and accidents resulting from errors in the organization and management of animal space are called technopathies.

In such situations, the assistance of a veterinarian caring for the herd is invaluable, but even before his arrival you can take steps to help the animal. For this purpose, it is worth stocking a first aid kit. In this article you will be able to learn how to monitor the health of the herd to detect and respond to any abnormalities as early as possible, and what should be included in the first aid kit for alpacas.

Basic physiological parameters of alpacas.

CTO - temperature, heart rate and respirations are the three basic physiological parameters that are the first to be determined when assessing health. The normal temperature in an adult animal is taken as 37.4 - 38.3°C, heart rate 60-90 beats/min, respirations 10-30/minute. In young animals, higher values are always accepted. For cria - body temperature 38-39°C, for the other indicators there is no data, but they can also be higher than in adults. Further mentioned methods of measuring these indices will refer to methods that can be performed on the farm by the owner. Temperature is measured rectally. Heart rate can be measured on the underside of the tail, the groin of the forelegs, the inner part of the hind legs at knee level. Respirations can be counted by observing respiratory movements. Measuring the heart rate in animals that are not de-sensitized in the aforementioned parts of the body, is pointless, as the mere attempt to measure it will cause it to rise. In the case of respirations, the measurement can be disturbed by movements of the digestive system. Due to these limitations, the best method will be to measure body temperature, although if one has the capacity to do so, it is worth including the other measurements, which will give a more complete picture of the animal's condition.

Other elements will be the observation of the appearance of mucous membranes (usually gums), sclera and feces. A normal mucous membrane is pink and moist. Some alpacas have pigmented mucous membranes (e.g., black); evaluate non-pigmented membranes to correctly determine color. Pale membranes are often a sign of anemia or severe stress, if the membrane is very heavily pigmented it can mean sepsis or dehydration - these are serious conditions (especially sepsis). The sclera in alpacas is visible when pulled down the lower eyelid - it should be white with visible blood vessels. Proper droppings are in the form of single, unstuck together bobbles. Diarrhea is very dangerous for cria. If you see that the cub is dirty under the tail, you should react immediately and, together with your veterinarian, determine the cause.

Body weight measurement and BCS condition assessment.

A factor that can help in assessing the health of our pet is regular weight monitoring. For this you need a scale large enough for the animal to stand on it comfortably, with a sensitivity from a few kilograms (to weigh the cria), up to about 100 kg. A veterinary scale for weighing dogs, for example, can work well here (it has a range from 0 to as much as 180 kg, with an accuracy of 100g). An adult alpaca weighs about 55-90 kg. Males are heavier than females. Declines in body weight, especially sudden ones, can indicate a medical condition and should not be underestimated. Body weight may drop slightly as a result of stress factors (such as after moving to a new owner), but it should return to normal.

Cria in the first weeks of life should ideally be weighed daily. The safe birth weight is a minimum of 7 kg. In the first day (some say even in the first three days) after birth, they may fall slightly in weight (maximum 0.5 kg in 3 days). After that, they should gain weight daily, about 125-250 g. Within 30-60 days, cria should double their birth weight. Individuals in the risk group (sick or in convalescence) should also be weighed more frequently. Adult individuals can be weighed less frequently, such as once a month, every few weeks. In the case of adult animals (except pregnant females), body weight should be stable, small increases should be adequate to the growth of the hair coat. Sudden decreases in body weight, as well as sudden increases, are worrying. Their cause should be determined with a veterinarian.

In addition to body weight, condition is determined by the BCS (Body Condition Score) scale. It is analogous to body weight, but more objective. It is performed by palpation, on the lumbar spine behind the ribs, determining the degree of fatness on the spinous processes. This is the primary way to assess the condition, in addition to which it can be supplemented by assessing the level of fatness between the limbs in front and behind (Figure 1). The assessment can be made on a 5 (1-5) or 9 (1-9) degree scale. They are analogous to each other, the 5-grade scale also uses ratings of ,,with half," e.g. 2.5 which is equivalent to 4 on the 9-grade scale. The choice is a matter of convenience for the evaluator. Below is an example of an evaluation formula on a 1-5 scale, so further values will be given on this scale.

Figure 1. BCS condition assessment in alpacas (Source: Niehaus A.J. 2022. Medicine and Surgery of Camelids. 4th Edition, Wiley Blackwell, Iowa State University Press)

The correct condition is 3. Both too low and too high condition are not good for the health of the animal. A low condition is a weak, emaciated animal. The causes can be many from malnutrition, dental problems to chronic inflammation or severe parasitic infestations. Being overweight as well as obese is also dangerous for the animal, contributing to fertility problems, stressing the musculoskeletal system, and increasing the risk of liver steatosis. Females may have problems giving birth through overly fattened reproductive tracts. BCS evaluation is best done along with weighing the animal. Although it is not easy, it is best to control the feed intake of the animals in the herd so that each eats the right amount (one does not snack on the other), especially for more concentrated feeds.

Fecal analysis

Regular fecal examination for the presence of internal parasites is important, since it is virtually impossible to eliminate them from the environment. Fecal examination should be performed a minimum of twice a year, usually before and after the start of the grazing season and when the appearance of the feces deviates from the norm (feces are stuck together, the consistency is too loose, there is diarrhea). Fecal samples are taken from the rectum and sent to the laboratory for analysis (presence and number of parasite eggs). Alpacas are most often attacked by coccidia (which you can read about in a separate article) and gastrointestinal nematodes. Flat worms (tapeworms and flukes) are not common in alpacas, but can occur. Liver fluke (Dicrocoelium dendriticum) (fluke) is particularly dangerous, and can lead to death. Unfortunately, its presence is very difficult to detect in feces.

It is assumed that alpacas are dewormed when the number of parasite eggs in the feces exceeds the acceptable value. Administration of deworming preparations "prophylactically" leads to immunization of parasites to them. It is recommended to administer deworming preparations when the number of eggs per 1g of feces exceeds 100 in youngsters up to 1 year of age and 300 in adults. There are many substances that act as dewormers, and your veterinarian will always advise you on what to give and in what dose. It is worth remembering that albendazole should not be given to pregnant females (it can be toxic to the fetus).

Disease behavior

As mentioned in the introduction, alpacas are quite late in showing well noticeable disease symptoms. Initially, these may be non-specific changes, which are the first sign that something bad may be happening. During the illness, the mood deteriorates, the appetite decreases, the animal takes less feed, its activity decreases, it lies down more often, sometimes at a distance from the rest of the herd, there may be a weakening or even inhibition of reproductive behavior or a weakening of maternal behavior, cognitive dysfunction may appear. It is not possible to link this to a specific disease, but it is clear that the animal is not feeling well and the cause of this condition should be found.

More advanced symptoms may already indicate what we may be dealing with, such as the disappearance of rumination and lack of defecation or urination (digestive system, urinary system), adopting a posture of so-called relief, relieving pressure on a limb (pain), coughing, rales (respiratory system), frequent scratching and nibbling (external parasites). Of course, sometimes several diseases produce similar symptoms, so the diagnosis is made by the veterinarian, but knowing what to look out for will help catch these changes sooner. The veterinarian is not permanently on the farm, he comes at the request of the owner, so it is the owner who should be alert to changes in the behavior of his animals.

First aid kit

It doesn't matter whether you own a few alpacas or a huge herd it's worth having a first aid kit in your supplies, which can come in handy in emergencies. Below is a list of things you should have in it.

Disinfectants and dressings.

- Octenisept - a wound disinfectant that , "does not pinch" like hydrogen peroxide (more acceptable to animals)

- Alu spray or ointment with silver ions, zinc oxide - an agent for cleaned and disinfected wounds to accelerate healing (be careful that the animal does not lick it)

- Betadine (10% iodine solution) - for use on the skin, around wounds, strong antiseptic effect

- Potassium permanganate - to stop bleeding and disinfect for use on the skin and mucous membranes (e.g., on ulcers, festering wounds), must not be used to wash the eyes

- Boric acid 3% - disinfectant effect on skin lesions and mucous membranes for washing (e.g., on half-closed inflamed eyes) - will not replace antibiotic treatment if necessary

- Bandages of various widths

- Sterile gauze, cotton wool

- Sharp scissors

- Shaver - clean around the wound, affected areas

Check of condition.

- Rectal thermometer (preferably electronic)

- Containers for feces and urine

- Swab sticks

Digestive tract problems.

- Probe (1 cm diameter, 1 m length) for an adult alpaca and litmus paper - to test the pH of the stomach contents

- Tympacon - for flatulence

- Activated charcoal - for diarrhea

Vitamins, micronutrients.

- Vitamin B12, A, D3, E - mostly injectable, for deficiencies

- Vit. E + Selenium - for deficiencies

- Boviferm primo - vitamin bomb

Other

- Biovetalgin, Pyralgivet - painkillers and antipyretics

- Flashlight

- Towels

- Tweezers

- Latex gloves

- Needles, syringes

- Saline solution

- Scalpel

- Nail clippers

Of course, depending on your needs, the contents of the first aid kit may vary. It is important to remember that some remedies should be in the refrigerator.

You may think that monitoring the health of alpacas is difficult and complicated. In fact, if you are with the herd on a daily basis and know your animals well, you can catch any changes and abnormalities very quickly. It is also a good idea to make a survey of the herd once a month, weigh each individual, assess the condition, inspect the skin, limbs, eyes, ears. Early detection of changes will allow for faster and simpler treatment, not to mention lower treatment costs.

The author of the text prepared in cooperation with Heaven Alpacas is : Joanna Kapustka, M.Sc., Department of Animal Ethology and Hunting, University of Life Sciences in Lublin

Written : 24.08.2022