Camelids Flashcards
How do you listen to respiratory sounds in camelids?
Place stethoscope over trachea at thoracic inlet
(Normal lung sounds are muted and difficult to hear)
Normal body temperature for camelids
37.5-38.9oC
(Can be as high as 40oC)
Can you elevate a pulse in a camelid?
No, there are no accessible arteries
Sites for jugular venipuncture in a camelid
Low on neck near thoracic inlet (valves may interfere)
High on neck near ramus of the mandible
How do you achieve gastric intubation in a camelid? Oral cavity or nasal cavity? Why?
Via oral cavity (nasal cavity is narrow, can only pass very small tube)
Where do camelids urinate and defaecate?
In a communal dung heap
Important point about examination of the oral cavity in camelids
They cannot open the mouth very wide so anything beyond a cursory examination is not possible
Normal gastric motility (rumen)
3-4 turnovers per minute (increases slightly after feeding)
Common cause of pruritis and anaemia in camelids?
Sucking lice
Treatment for a sucking louse infestation in camelids?
Avermectin
Treatment for chewing lice infestations in camelids?
Topical products produced for use in other species
Treatment for sarcoptic mange in camelids?
Ivermectin injections every 7-10 days for 3-4 treatments
What age do camelids most commonly present with a tooth root abscess?
2-5 years
Treatment for a tooth root abscess in a camelid
Subcutaneous florfenicol every other day
Species adapted coccidia in camelids (4)
Eimeria punoensis
Eimeria alpaca
Eimeria lamae
Eimeria macusaniensis
Complication with severe burdens of Haemonchus spp. (GI parasite) and treatment
Anaemia
Respond rapidly to blood transfusion from a healthy animal
Treat underlying cause
Test for gastrointestinal parasites in camelids
Modified Stoll’s test
(Passive float tests are too insensitive)
Cause of severe colic in camelids
Lesions of the distal small intestine or spiral colon
Cause of mild colic in camelids
Forestomach problems
What is a common consequence of stress in camelids?
Ulceration of the third compartment (C3)
Is camelid immunity to parasitism higher or lower than sheep?
Lower
Diagnosis of ketosis in a camelid
Measure ketones and blood triglycerides
What (commonly fatal) consequence can camelids suffer from in extreme cases of ketosis?
Hepatic lipidosis
Do camelids suffer from hyperlipaemia?
Yes, as in the horse
Do camelids suffer from ketosis?
Yes, as in the cow
Are camelids always hyperglycaemic or hypoglycaemic?
Hyperglycaemic
Are camelids well adapted to anaemia? Why?
Yes, because they are adapted to a low oxygen environment
Diagnosis of Mycoplasma haemolamae in camelids
Blood smear made in the field (detach from blood cells in transportation)
How does transmission of Mycoplasma haemolamae to camelids occur?
Biting insects
Clinical signs of acute Mycoplasma haemolamae infection in camelids
Inappetence
Sudden weakness
Pyrexia
Clinical signs of chronic Mycoplasma haemolamae infection in camelids
Lethargy
Weight loss/wasting
Decreased fertility
Treatment for camelids clinically affected with Mycoplasma haemolamae
Long-acting oxytetracycline, given subcutaneously, every three days for two to five treatments (off-label treatment)
May consider blood transfusion and treat concurrent conditions predisposing to infection (e.g. nutritional deficits)
Which GI parasite is colloquially referred to as ‘Barber’s Pole Worm’?
Haemonchus contortus
Life cycle of Haemonchus contortus in the camelid
Larvae in 3rd stomach compartment where they grow into adults and produce large numbers of eggs which are passed in faeces
Clinical signs of acute infection of Haemonchus contortus in camelids
Collapse
Pale mucous membranes
Hyperpnoea/tachypnoea
Clinical signs of subacute infection of Haemonchus contortus in camelids
Submandibular oedema (‘bottle jaw’)
Clinical signs of chronic infection of Haemonchus contortus in camelids
Weight loss
Failure to thrive
Sub-mandibular oedema (‘bottle jaw’)
Lethargy
Weakness
Microcytic anaemia
PCV seen with anaemia in camelids
<6%
Clinical signs of C3 ulcer in camelids
Decreased food consumption
Intermittent to severe colic
Tooth grinding (bruxism)
Depression
Diagnosis of C3 ulcers in the camelid
History and clinical signs
Treatment of C3 ulcers in camelids
Stress reduction, parenteral antimicrobials and supportive therapy
(+ treatment of primary problem if present)
Oral medication not effective although omeprazole/pantoprazole reduce acid production
Are camelids seasonal breeders?
No
(However breed seasonally if climate requires it e.g. harsh natural habitat)
Gestation length in camelids
11-12 months
What type of ovulators are camelids?
Induced
(Repeated and overlapping follicular waves in absence of mating, prolonged receptivity to male)
Ovulation occurs how many hours after mating in camelids?
24-48 hours
What hormones are produced following mating in camelids that stimulate ovulation?
GnRH and LH
What is ‘cushing’?
Female camelid assumes sternal recumbency if she is receptive to the male (pre-ovulatory follicle present)
What is ‘spitting off’?
Occurs when female camelid is not receptive to mating (no pre-ovulatory follicle)
Why should male camelids be separated from females in the last trimester of gestation?
Placental oestrogen production may lead to inappropriate mating attempts
Bacterial causes of abortion in camelids (most common, 4)
Leptospira
Chlamydia
Listeria
Campylobacter
Viral cause of abortion in camelids
Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus
Protozoal cause of abortion in camelids
Neospora
Non-infectious causes of abortion in camelids (3)
Twinning
Fetal abnormalities
Environmental stressors
Top differential in a female alpaca that is between 8-10 months of gestation showing signs of colic with dark mucous membranes, slow CRT, tachycardia and minimal compartmental contraction with fetus moving excessively against the maternal side. Vagina is swollen and moist
Uterine torsion
Diagnostic tests for uterine torsion (and direction) in a camelid
Rectal palpation or exploratory laparotomy
Bloods or imaging to investigate other possible causes of colic
Direction of torsion can be ascertained by palpating displacement of the broad ligament towards opposite side of pelvis to gravid horn
Risk factors for uterine torsion South American camelids
Large fetal size
Right horn pregnancies
Excessive rolling in late gestation
Treatment of uterine torsion in camelids
Surgical correction
Non-surgical correction (roll dam to untwist uterus of transvaginal correction if cervix is sufficiently dilated)
