Alpacas Flashcards
Body scoring alpacas
Muscles over the thoracic spine at the level of the last ribs– not the pelvic area
This is a good way to find a sick alpaca
Spotting the sick one
How much feed?
Pasture and water supply?
Roughage with alpacas?
WHy is vit D a common def. in alpacas?
Feed supplements
Do not feed pellets= lactic acidosis
Feed considerations in alpacas with their hierarchy
Feed wastage
Keep it simple nutrition alpacas
Clinical examination of alpacas
Opthalmoscopic examination
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Find a dark area
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Use magnification
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Tropicamide (Mydriacyl) may take 20-45
minutes to effect dilation, so plan for that
Congenital ocular conditions
Aural examination alpacas
Diagnostic procedures, alpacas
Diagnostic pitfalls in alpacas
Landmarks for venepuncture
Llamas v. alpacas venepuncture
Caring for the sick alpaca
Energy metabolism of sick camelids
Fluid movement associated with persistent hyperglycemia
•
Lipid metabolism disoders may occur –
especially in lactating and pregnant females
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Most sick alpacas become
hypoalbuminaemic
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Hepatic lipidosis – end point of blood
glucose not meeting demand : similar to
ketosis in conventional ruminants
Responding to the sick camelid
Injection technique and sites in an alpaca
Injection technique
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Sterile technique
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Most injections given subcutaneously
•
The skin of alpacas is quite tightly attached
compared to other species
•
Use the skin in front of and behind the
“shoulder blade” – there is very little
“loose” skin on the camelid
Unlikely disorders in alpacas
Likely disorders in alpacas
Likely disorders
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Alpacas are very hardy
•
We see
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- some skin problems, often allergic
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- occasional gastro enteric disorders
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- occasional neurological upsets
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- occasional parasitic problems
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- cancer likely in older animals
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Ear infection, foreign bodies - ear carriage
will be down, may shake head. Alpacas
have narrow ears and may need sedation
for adequate examination
•
Weepy eyes, suspect grass seeds. May be
hidden by third eyelid
Neurological disorders in alpacas
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Congenital abnormalities
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Pasture toxicities - perennial rye & phalaris
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Snakebite
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Ixodes holocyclis
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Heat stress - high temp & humidity in
combination
•
Polioencephalomalacia
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Hepatic encephalopathy
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Meningitis, otitis media
•
Hypocalcemia
•
Aspergillosis
•
Cryptococcosis
•
Angiostrogylus cantonensis
Sporidesmin
Perennial ryegrass staggers
Skin disorders in alpacas
Biting lice in alpacas
Biting lice
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Presence of Bovicola breviceps
documented in Australian alpaca herds
•
Affects all camelids in South America
•
Most common base of tail, thorax,
abdomen & upper limbs
•
Feed on scurf (“chewing lice”)
•
Life cycle 2-5 weeks – adults live 30-50
days
•
Host specific for camelids
•
Transmission – close contact (e.g. mating)
or grooming instruments
•
Diagnosis – 1.0 – 1.5 mm long,
photophobic so often hard to find, examine
hairs for eggs attached at the base of the
shaft
•
Control – no products registered – must be
safe and avoid fleece residues & staining
•
Advisable to add wetting agents
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Spinosad (Extinosad® - Elanco) – a jetting
fluid + surfactant at 17 day intervals was
effective in our herd
•
Note – Off label use
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The active ingredient kills adults and
nymphs but not eggs
Neonatal assessment of crias
Congenital problems
Congenital cardiac disease
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VSD - 60%
•
PDA - 20%
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Other - 20%
•
(Data from CSU - 4% of animals examined
sonographically)
Neonate… suspect?
Choanal atresia
Geriatric camelids
Following up a sick alpaca
At risk group vit D def
Vit D levels in Southern Victoria
Clinical signs of vitamin D deficiency
Diagnostic approach to limb disorders
Diagnosis of vit D deficiency
Exceptions to the rule in vit D deficiency
Alpaca anaesthesia
Special considerations in alpaca anaesthesia
Avoiding aspiration in alpacas
Intubation techniques in alpacas
Endoscope guided intubation advantages and disadvantages
Ideal anaesthesia
Monitoring anaesthesia
Recovery from anaesthesia
Analgesia
Keeping to fibres away from clipped area
Tooth root abscess
Tooth removal
Laparoscopy
Lapartomy
C-section alpacas
Phytobezoar- A phytobezoar is a type of bezoar, or trapped mass in the gastrointestinal system, that consists of components of indigestible plant material
Celiotomy
vaginal celiotomy incision into the abdominal cavity through the vagina.
Orthopaedic disease in alpacas
Diagnosis?
Practice Tip
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Always consider the possibility of the
presence of a sequestrum in a young animal
with a single limb lameness
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The index of suspicion rises if there is a
discharging sinus
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Take a radiograph and if confirmed perform
surgery – this is a surgical disease!
FECs in crias and weaners? What is a nematode of concern?
Adults and tuis (yearlings) FECs? Nematode of concern?
