camelids Flashcards
how to differentiate species
llamas- banana ears (bigger)
alpacas- smaller
huacaya- white fiber, more valuable
suri- stringy wool
guanaco- wild camelid, protected
vicuna- tiny, finest fiber
camelid adaptation
high altitude, low precipitation
mountainous area-> foot pad
bright sunlight-> ocular apparatus
low nutrient density-> efficient ruminators
anatomic considerations
thick skin, transverse vertebrae in neck make blood draws hard, cannot tell venous from arterial
split lip, fighting teeth (canines)
3 compartment stomach (ruminates)
elliptical RBC, high MCHC
camelid stomach
C1- rumen
C2- omasum
C3- abomasum
have saccuoliths (normal)
greater plant fiber digestion (more mixing, better buffering and VFA absorption, longer retention time)
foot anatomy
reproduction
induced ovulators, diffuse placenta, prolonged ejaculation,gestation in left horn, birth during the day
behaviour
herd structure, fighting
work with them as a group
ears back, nose up-> angry
cover mouth w tissue to stop spitting
beserk male syndrome
attacks people like a llama, castration doesnt correct it
malocclusion
underbite, broken teeth
incisors most common
should touch dental pad, not dig in-> correct w hand file/saw, dremel
jaw masses
common (mostly tooth root abscess)
tx medically w enro 5mg/kg SQ 10 PO
DDX: osteomyelitis (lumpy jaw), fx, cysts, tumour
megaesophagus
related to trauma, choke, organophosphate toxicity
C/S: v+, regurg, dysphagia, hypersalivation, bad breath, weight loss
dx: rads, barium swallow
tx: feed complete feed, euth
first compartment flora problem
secondary to some other disease after 3d off feed
C/S: anorexia, depressed gastric contraction, change in fluid
tx- transfaunation 500ml 2-4 times
grain overload
feedin accidents, aggressive eaters
C/S: acute depression, gastric distension, atony
stumbling
dx- metabolic acidosis, fluid pH
tx-treat dehydration, acidosis, abx, thiamine
3rd compartment ulcers
causes by stress
C/S: colic, depression, bruxism, decreased feces
tx- symptomatic, omeprazole IV, panto 1mg/kg
colic
C/S: depression, teeth grinding, lateral recumbency, abnormal posture
dx- hx, PE, BW, abdominocentesis, AXR, exlap
tx- usually not surgical
peritonitis
from pneumonia, pericarditis, abd abscess, sepsis, C3 ulcers, pancreatitis
C/S: depression, anorexia
ileus, d+, dehydration, weight loss
dx- abdominocentesis
tx- remove source of infection, abx, NSAID, nutritional
upper respiratory disease (alpaca snots)
nasal dc, fever, cough
usually recover, but can progress to pneumonia
PI3, adenovirus, coronavirus
pneumonia
not obvious signs: unexplained fever, anorexia, tachypnea
infectious (strep zoo)
no cough
dx- rads
tx- ceftiofur 2.2mg/kg, ampi 6.6mg/kg
aspiration pneumonia
regurg when tubing, paralyzed animal, megaesophagus
poor prognosis
GI parasites
coccidia, trichostrongylus, ostertagia, haemonchus, nematodirus
mycoplasma haemolamae
no cell wall, grows on RBC
causes fever, anemia, icterus, depression, infertility
associated w stress, transport, disease
dx- blood smear, PCR
tx- only for very sick tetracycline 20mg/kg q3d 5 times
parelaphostrongylosis pathogenesis, C/S, dx, tx, prevention
WTD parasite (eastern NA, sask)
int host snail, llama is aberrant host
eggs in lung-> coughed and swallowed-> excreted in feces-> snails (L2 and L3)-> deer eats snail-> L3 freed in abomasum-> brain
migrates to spinal cord in llama-> malacia, meningitis, hemorrhage
C/S: hypermetria, ataxia, head tilt, circling, blindness
dx- signs and deer presence, r/o other causes. CSF-> eosinophils
tx- fenben 50mg/kg 5d, ivermectin 0.2mg/kg
NSAIDs
physio
prevention- control deer, snails, deworm w ivermectin, moxidectin
west nile virus C/S, dx, prevention
C/S- lip twitching, facial tremors, head shaking, ataxia
dx- leukocytosis, high cells in CSF, PCR/IHC
prevention- control mosquitoes
heat stress
hot weather, transport, shows, exercise/breeding
C/S- depression, anorexia, drooping lower lip, perianal swelling, high temp, abortion, recumbency
tx- cooling w water, shade, IVF
prevention- shade, water access, shearing, ventilation, pools, avoid hot days
