Camelid Digestion Issues

Question 1

What oral disorders are camelids prone to?

Answer 1

• ulcerative lip lesions
• fibropapilloma
• oral mucosal lesions

Question 2

What signs are associated with megaoesophagus? How is it diagnosed? How is it treated?

Answer 2

• Barium contrast study
• Clinical signs
  ◦ Weight loss
  ◦ Regurgitation
  ◦ Hypersalivation
  ◦ Frothing
• Diet change – easy swallowing and feeding from an elevated surface

Question 3

What clinical signs are associated with gastric atony? How is it treated?

Answer 3

• Clinical signs
  ◦ Anorexia
  ◦ Loss in BCS
  ◦ Depression
• Fluids
• Anorexia for 3-5 days = death of bacteria and protozoa in C1 and C2 – requires transfaunation

Question 4

What pathogens cause diarrhoea in adult and cria camelids? How is it treated?

Answer 4

Adults
* Feed changes
* Eosinophilic enteritis
* Eimeria
* Mycobacterium paratuberculosis – fatal;
* Parasites
Cria
* Milk scour
* Diet change – can lead to blockage of spiral colon and colic
* Rotavirus
* Coronavirus
* Cryptosporidium
* E. coli
* Eimeria – around weaning – stress induced
* Giardia
* Yersinia pseudotubercululosis
* Salmonella
Treatment
* Fluids
* Electrolyte replacement
* Antibitoics
* NSAIDs

Question 5

What endoparasites are camelids prone to? What clinical signs are associated?

Answer 5

Clinical signs
* Diarrhoea
* Ill thrift
* Anaemia
* Malaise
* Death

Must do individual FEC
* Nematodirus
* Haemonchus
* Liver fluke
* Coccidiosis
* Lung worm
* Cryptosproidium