Farm Skills: Alpacas

Question 1

Adult alpaca TPR

Answer 1

• HR: 60-90 bpm
• RR: 10-30 breaths per min
• Temp: 37.5-38.9C

Question 2

True/false: vaccinating alpacas against clostridial is a good idea.

Answer 2

True
* Primary course is 2 injections 3-6 weeks apart
* Boosters annually
* Booster for pregnant animals 4-6 weeks before unpacking

Question 3

Differentials and treatment

Answer 3

Differentials: manidbular abscess, osteomyelitis/ lumpy jaw

Mandibular abscess
* There will be lateral swelling ± draining tract
* Tooth extraction required - lateral incision over teeth, split the tooth (must done under GA)

Osteomyelitis/ lumpy jaw
* Signs include drooling, weight loss, ill thrift
* Requires radiographs/ CT/ MRI
* Surgical debridement + antibiotics described

Question 3

What is hepatic lipidosis and which animals does it affect? How can you diagnose and treat it?

Answer 3

Hepatic lipidosis = fatty liver
* Affects all ages but especially pregnant/ lactating females and anorexic animals
* Diagnosis: increased serum triglycerides and lipids; ultrasound changes in echogenicity
* Supportive treatment: fluids

Question 4

Diagnosis, clinical signs and treatment

Answer 4

Megaoesophagus
Clinical signs
* Weight loss
* Regurgitation
* Hypersalivation, frothing

Diagnosis: barium contrast study

Treatment: easy swallowing and feeding from an elevated surface

Question 5

Clinical signs and treatment of gastric atony

Answer 5

Clinical signs
* Anorexia
* Loss in BCS
* Depression

Treatment: fluids.
Anorexia for 3-5 days = death of bacteria and protozoa in C1 and C2 -> requires transfaunation

Question 6

Differentials for diarrhoea in adult alpacas

Answer 6

• Feed changes
• Eosinophilic enteritis
• Coccidiosis (Eimeria)
• Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (fatal)
• Parasites

Question 7

Differentials for diarrhoea in crias

Answer 7

• Milk scour
• Diet change (can lead to blockage of spiral colon and colic)
• Rotavirus
• Coronavirus
• Cryptosporidium
• E. coli
• Coccidiosis around weaning (stress-induced)
• Giardia
• Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
• Salmonella

Question 8

Treatment of diarrhoea in alpacas

Answer 8

• Fluids
• Electrolyte replacement
• Antibiotics if indicated
• NSAIDs

Question 9

Clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment

Answer 9

Gastric ulceration of C3 and proximal duodenum
* There are partial or full thickness erosions
* Stress-induced

Clinical signs
* Anorexia
* Colic
* Bruxism
* Depression

Treatment
* IV pantopazole or omeprazole to increase C3 pH
* ± blood transfusion

Question 10

Clinical signs, treatment and prevention of Vitamin D deficiency

Answer 10

Clinical signs
* Lameness
* Hunched back
* Weight loss

Treatment
* Oral paste or injectable

Prevention
* Young animals - 3 doses - Nov, Jan, March
* All ages - Nov
* Pregnant females - 2 doses - Jan, Nov

Question 11

Cria TPR

Answer 11

Weight: 7-11kg
HR: 60-100bpm
RR: 30 breaths per min
Temp: 37.8C

Question 12

Clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment of failure of passive transfer

Answer 12

Cria should ingest 10-15% BW within 24hrs.

Clinical signs
* Dull and depressed
* Unable to stand
* No suck reflex
* Hypothermia
* Septicaemia
* Diarrhoea

Diagnosis: IgG <5.5g/dl at 18-24hrs

Treatment: 1 unit (300ml) plasma taken from an older vaccinated male from the same herd if possible

Question 13

Common congenital abnormalities in crias

Answer 13

• Choanal atresia (fatal as obligate nasal breather)
• Umbilical hernia
• VSD
• Segmental aplasia
• Atresia ani/ coli
• Syndactyly/ polydactyly
• Angular limb deformities (valgus, arthrogryposis, tendon laxity)
• Prematurity
• Wry nose/ face
• Blue eyed deafness
• Juvenile cataracts
• Blocked nasolacrimal ducts
• Tail defects
• Female urogenital defects e.g. clitoral hypertrophy, hypoplastic ovaries, double cervices
• Male urogenital defects e.g. testicular hypoplasua, corkscrew penis, persistent frenulum

Question 14

Clinical signs of prematurity in cria

Answer 14

• Domed head
• Floppy ears
• Excess foot periople
• Silky fur
• Failure to stand
• Poor suck reflex
• FPT

Question 15

How can you sedate an alpaca?

Answer 15

Triple stun IM
* Xylazine
* Butorphanol
* Ketamine

Question 16

Pre-op care e.g. for alpaca undergoing castration

Answer 16

• Clostridial vaccination
• Starve for 12hrs due to regurgitation risk
• NSAIDs
• Antibiotics: penicillin
• Local anaesthetic into testicle after sedation

Question 17

Endoparasites affecting alpacas and general clinical signs

Answer 17

Endoparasites
* Coccidiosis
* Cryptosporidium
* Haemonchus
* Liver fluke
* Lungworm
* Nematodirus

General clinical signs
* Anaemia
* Diarrhoea
* Ill thrift
* Malaise
* Death

Must do individual FEC.

Question 18

Clinical signs and diagnosis of Fasciola hepatica

Answer 18

Fasciola hepatica
* Affects bile ducts
* Shedding in faeces at 10-12 days but not always seen

Clinical signs
* Ill thrift
* Poor growth
* Death

Diagnosis
* Increased serum bile acids, increased ALP, increased AST

• Must be up to date with clostridial vaccinations -> increased risk of Black’s disease (Clostridium novyi)

Question 19

Clinical signs of copper deficiency

Answer 19

• Depigmentation of fibre
• Wire texture
• Poor growth
• Predisposed to disease

Treatment and prevention: dietary supplementation

Question 20

Answer 20

Dorsal nasal alopecia
* There is dermatitis on the bridge of the nose with skin that is scaly, hyperpigmented, thickened.

Potential causes:
* Dark nose syndrome (seen in dark coloured animals)
* Burrowing mites

Diagnosis
* Skin scrapes ± biopsy

Treatment options:
* Parasites treatment
* Topical or systemic steroids

Question 21

Clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment of zinc-responsive dermatosis

Answer 21

= idiopathic hyperkeratosis

Clinical signs
* Seen at any age
* Non-pruritic papules with tightly adherent crust
* Less densely haired areas or perineum, ventral abdomen, inguinal region, medial thighs, axilla, medial forearms, face

Diagnosis: skin biopsy

Treatment: oral zinc sulphate/ topical zinc shampoos

Question 22

Clinical signs and differential diagnoses of mange

Answer 22

• Severe dermatitis: heavy, adherent, hyperkeratotic crusts especially on paranasal/ perioral regions

Differentials:
* Viral contagious pustular dermatitis
* Dermatophilosis
* Dermatophytosis
* Bacterial dermatitis
* Immune-mediated disease

Question 23

Clinical signs, differentials, diagnosis and treatment

Answer 23

Clinical signs
* Alopecia
* Hyperkeratosis
* Scaling
* Pruritus

Differentials:
* Sarcoptes, Psoroptes, Chorioptes, Demodex
* Zinc deficiency

Diagnosis
* Skin scrapes, skin biopsies

Treatment
* Ivermectin repeated q14 days (must be IM or SC; not oral)

Question 24

Diagnosis of lice and treatment

Answer 24

Biting louse = *Damalinia breviceps* Sucking louse = *Microthoracius cameli* Diagnosis: sellotape test Treatment * Sucking louse - ivermectin * Biting louse - topical pyrethrin

Question 25

Clinical signs of ticks

Answer 25

* Tick paralysis * Inner ear issues leading to Horner's syndrome ± encephalitic death

Question 26

Clinical signs of TB

Answer 26

*Mycobacterium pinnipedii, bovis, microti* Clinical signs * Lethargy * Anorexia * Weight loss * Coughing * Resp signs - mild to severe * Sudden death Zoonotic!

Question 27

Diagnosis of TB

Answer 27

* Often made at PM: granulomas in lungs and lymph nodes, presence of acid-fast bacilli

Question 28

Answer 28

*Mycoplasma haemolamae* * Causes mild to fatal anaemia * Diagnosed on blood smear or PCR * Treatment: oxytetracycline ± blood transfusion