CAMELID HUSBANDRY AND COMMON VETERINARY PROBLEMS

FARM ANIMAL PRACTICE CAMELID HUSBANDRY AND COMMON VETERINARY PROBLEMS Alpacas and llamas are increasingly ppular as quality fleece prductin animals and pets. Larkmead Veterinary Grup prvides veterinary care t bth pet wners and a number f well-established, high-quality breeding farms. Many f the prblems we see are the result f cmmn and ften preventable disrders. The aim f this factsheet is t utline sme f the basics f camelid husbandry and hpefully minimise the ccurrence f the mre cmmn disrders. As a practice, we deal mainly with alpacas, s mst f the infrmatin belw relates directly t them. Hwever, much f the husbandry advice will als be applicable t llamas. The alpaca riginated frm Suth America in the arid, high altitude Andean Planes (Altiplan) and has bviusly had t adapt t the wetter climate and lusher pasture in the UK. This change f envirnment and an ften high stcking density relative t the Andes has als influenced the type f prblems we see in this species. Learning what is nrmal It is gd animal husbandry t regularly handle yur alpaca r llama frm head t te. This allws yu t learn the textures and bne structures that are present in the nrmal animal. This will help t train the animal t be held and handled, aiding us if ever we have t examine the animal as a patient. Mre imprtantly it allws yu t detect deviatins frm the nrmal early and thus seek advice early frm vets r ther experienced wners/breeders. As with mst medical cnditins, if addressed prmptly there is a much better chance f a favurable utcme. Reprductin Females need t have begun the hrmnal changes f puberty befre they can be bred frm. As a guide, female alpacas may be mated nce they are ver 12 mnths f age r weigh tw-thirds f their anticipated adult weight (i.e. when they have reached 40kg). The gestatin perid (length f pregnancy) f the alpaca is apprximately 11.5 mnths. Hwever, the gestatin perid can be highly variable between individuals and it is nt uncmmn fr an alpaca t have a gestatin length f mre than 12 mnths. Mst animals are bred frm spring until early autumn, s that the cria are brn the fllwing year during the mre favurable climate f the English summer! Female alpacas are induced vulatrs. The means the egg is nly released frm the vary after mating with a male. After giving birth they underg extremely quick uterus invlutin (returning f the uterus t nrmal size) and are capable f successfully re-breeding as early as 10 days after calving. As a general rule it wuld be recmmended t wait at least 15 days after a straightfrward calving befre breeding again. Pasture breeding (i.e. running a male with a grup f females) and strictly managed hand breeding (i.e. ne female with ne male, pssibly aided by the handler) are bth used as methds f breeding females. The latter gives cntrl ver mating date and pairing and a mre reliable indicatin f cnceptin date. Spitting-ff is an indirect methd f pregnancy diagnsis based n the behaviural manifestatin f the high levels f the hrmne prgesterne that are prduced during pregnancy and make the female animal unreceptive t the male. It is this which causes the female t regurgitate stmach cntents and spit it at the male in rejectin. Three psitive spit-ffs a week apart, beginning a

week after the mating, are a gd sign that the mating has held. The thery is that the first spit-ff tells yu the female has vulated, the secnd she has cnceived and the third she has held. If the female sits t be mated when intrduced t a male then it is likely that they are nt pregnant (a negative spit ff ). Ultrasund scanning f the abdmen after 30 days is a useful tl t help decide whether an animal is pregnant r nt. Hwever, it must be brne in mind that up until 60 days f pregnancy there is a high re-absrptin rate in these animals (10-20%), s later pregnancy checking with spitting-ff and/r ultrasund is ften useful. The ptimum time fr scanning efficiently is 60-90 days. Vaccines Vaccinatin f alpacas is rutinely undertaken, as with sheep, t prtect against disease caused by species f Clstridium bacteria. The clstridial diseases that yu may have heard f are: tetanus, btulism, pulpy kidney and blackleg. There are multi-strain vaccines such as Lambivac, Bravxin 10 and Cvexin 10, which prvide prtectin against 4, 10 and 10 types f Clstridial disease respectively. Unfrtunately, Heptavac, which many alpaca clients were using t prtect against clstridial disease, is n lnger being prduced. There are several pssible vaccinatin prtcls cmmnly used in alpacas and n ne has yet prven a single best prtcl. It is imprtant t remember that there are n drugs r vaccines licensed fr use in alpacas in the United Kingdm, s there use is based n veterinary recmmendatin, previus experience and small numbers f independent drug trials. The mst cmmn regimes that we recmmend are: Prtcl 1 using Bravxin 10 r Cvexin 10 alne (1ml dse) All animals receive a primary curse f 2 dses given 4-6 weeks apart. Start the curse frm 2-3 mnths f age, assuming that the cria came frm a vaccinated mther and received sufficient clstrum. Bster vaccinatins are given every 6 mnths. Aim t time vaccinatin such that a dse is given t pregnant females 4-6 weeks befre calving. This will ensure that the maximum number f prtective antibdies will be incrprated int the mther s clstrum (first milk), prviding prtectin t the cria in its first few weeks f life. Care shuld be taken when handling animals in late pregnancy when the stress f handling and injecting itself may cause abrtin r premature birth. Be aware that this vaccine can cmmnly cause a sizeable swelling at the injectin site which gradually reslves ver a perid f days r weeks. Prtcl 2 using Lambivac and Bravxin/Cvexin 10 (2ml Lambivac, 1ml Cvexin10) Lambivac is given t crias nce they are 48 hurs ld and again at 2-3 weeks f age. Bravxin/Cvexin 10 is given at 4-6 mnths ld and again at 1 year ld. Animals are then bsted annually with Bravxin/Cvexin 10 (time the vaccinatin f the females s that is carried ut nce recvered frm giving birth but befre breeding Any bught-in adult animals will need t have 2 dses f Bravxin/Cvexin 10 given 4 6 weeks apart.

Castratin Castratin (remval f the testicles) f males t create geldings is usually perfrmed when they are 18 mnths ld and thus have cmpleted their juvenile grwth. Remval f the testicles decreases teststerne prductin and s earlier castratin can prlng the time the grwth plates f the lng bnes remain pen. This can result in relatively lng-legged alpacas. Whilst there are n prven health implicatins, this appearance may be aesthetically unacceptable. The prcedure f castratin can be undertaken by numerus methds frm full anaesthesia and a sterile peratin t using lcal anaesthetic t numb the area and an pen castratin technique. At Larkmead we tend t perfrm an pen castratin under lcal anaesthetic, with r withut additinal sedatin as required. Care f the newbrn cria Newbrn crias can be quite fragile creatures. Ideally mthers and their ffspring shuld be left alne t bnd as much as pssible. Hwever, early interventin is preferable if yu have any cncerns, such as a weak-lking cria, bad weather r a first-time mther nt mthering her cria crrectly. Nrmal alpaca crias shuld weigh at least 5.5kg, but usually weigh 7-9kg at birth. They may lse up t 0.25kg in the first 24 hurs f life but thereafter shuld gain 0.25-0.5kg daily. The navels f the cria shuld be dipped r sprayed with 2-3% idine tincture t prevent navel infectins and if calving inside then the mther and cria shuld be n clean straw bedding. Crias shuld receive a gd vlume (250 500 ml) f clstrum (the female alpaca s first milk) in the first 8 hurs f life. Overall, they shuld cnsume 10-20% f their bdyweight in the first 24 hurs f life. Ideally the clstrum shuld cme frm its wn mther and mst crias take t their mther s teat by instinct. Ensure that the cria learns hw t suck milk frm its mther, as sme may need gentle persuasin and teaching. If the cria is nt taking t its mther s teat always check fr a reasn why and cnsider speaking t yur vet r an experienced wner. The mther shuld have functining teats and an udder full f milk. The udder shuld nt be ht, hard r painful. There is initially a small waxy plug in the teat ends and it can help t milk these ut t allw an easy flw f milk fr the cria. Lack f xygen t the cria s brain during calving, leading t a dpey cria, and hypthermia are cmmn reasns why the cria may struggle t suckle. In situatins where the mther s milk is nt sufficient, then the best substitute is gat clstrum. Cw clstrum can als be used. Clstrum is best stred frzen fr emergency use and will keep fr ne year in the freezer. Clstrum shuld be carefully reheated by putting it in warm water. D nt micrwave clstrum as this breaks dwn prteins (including prtective antibdies). The clstrum is then fed via a bttle (if the cria will suckle) r by stmach tube (crrectly placing these is smething that can be learnt frm yur veterinary surgen). If fr any reasn yu think a newbrn cria has failed t take sufficient clstrum, then veterinary advice shuld be sught and cnsideratin given t a prviding the cria with a plasma transfusin. Many large prducers will hld a stre f frzen plasma. The plasma is btained by cllecting bld frm a dnr adult (usually yung healthy males) and remving the bld cells t leave behind nutrients and antibdies. This is a prcedure we undertake cmmnly at Larkmead, s d cntact us if yu wuld like t discuss the pssibility in mre detail. We may als suggest testing the cria s bld t see whether it has absrbed sufficient maternal antibdies.

Hypthermia is a big prblem in ur wet envirnment. Unlike cattle and sheep, alpacas d nt lick ff the birthing fluids frm their cria. This leaves them susceptible t catching a chill. We recmmend that yu use a clean twel t dry ff the new cria, especially if the weather is inclement. A hair dryer can als be useful. In situatins where yu g ut and find a cld, wet newbrn cria in a field with a bdy temperature belw nrmal (less than 37 Celsius) yu shuld use a warm water bath t raise the cria s temperature and ring yur vet as sn as pssible. Parasite cntrl Alpacas, unlike ther grazing species such as sheep and cattle, d nt achieve a lng-lived immunity t parasites such as nematdes (wrms) and cccidia. This may be an evlutinary utcme frm the fact that they are used t a very expansive envirnment in the Andes with relatively lw stcking density and therefre limited challenge frm these parasites. Alpacas grazing near water surces r n bggy grund may als be at risk f expsure t liver fluke. The fllwing guidelines are aimed at eliminating, r at least minimising, parasitic disease, whilst als attempting t minimise the chance f the parasites becming resistant t the drugs used t treat them. Each farm shuld have an individual parasite cntrl plan tailred t their specific circumstances, including herd size, availability f grazing and previus histry f disease. The alpaca is mst susceptible as a yungster when eating grass, but is als at risk as an adult. Alpaca wners ften nly have limited amunts f space available fr their animals t graze and fields are grazed year-n-year, withut time t rest. Therefre the build-up f wrm eggs and larvae can be high and adults can succumb if the challenge is that great. The maximum recmmended stcking density is 7 alpacas per acre. Signs f weight lss, with r withut diarrhea and mucky backsides, are cmmn presentatins these parasitic diseases. If diarrhea is present this will put the animal at risk f fly strike, where maggts hatch ut and start t eat away at the skin. Faecal sampling is key in mnitring the parasite lad n the farm, r within specific grups, and adjusting any parasite cntrl plan accrdingly. Ideally, rutine mnitring shuld be carried ut at least twice yearly, and preferably prir t any planned treatment. May and Nvember are sensible times fr this. If yu have a large herd, chse ten animals, preferentially selecting yunger r less healthy animals, r thse that might therwise nt receive rutine wrming at that stage. Wrming shuld nt be a rutine treatment thrughut the summer, as is advcated by the ld schl f sheep farmers. Clean grazing is a vital part f parasite management. Paddcks must have been rested fr a least ne year t be defined as clean grazing. The mst at-risk animals will be crias and weanlings, s being able t mve these animals nt clean grazing each year wuld be invaluable in reducing the parasite challenge t them. Pasture rtatin n an annual basis with cattle and crps n the land in the interim years is the best way f rendering the pasture clean f mst wrm eggs. Resting fields fr a matter f weeks r mnths will still mean the pasture is cntaminated with wrms. Dung cllectin r vacuuming as is perfrmed by many hrse wners is a gd way t reduce the wrm pressure n limited grazing space. Cccidial disease in alpacas is usually caused by the alpaca-specific variety Eimeria macusaniensis. Severe disease can be caused even with lw faecal cyst cunts, r even befre cysts are present in the faeces. The cysts (eggs) f the cccidia rganism are extremely hardy and can survive three years r mre in buildings r n pasture. Therefre cccidisis can still be a prblem even with pasture rtatin ver a three year perid, especially if the stcking density f the animals is high. Plughing up pasture and re-seeding may be ne way f reducing the cccidial

cntaminatin. The newest and preferred treatment fr E. mac is Baycx bvis. Vecxan is als effective. An ral drench f wrmer that females are given just prir t giving birth is a sund apprach as it minimises the wrm burden fr the females when they are at their mst metablically stressed and when their immunity is at its lwest. Mving the females t a clean nursery paddck after birth is gd practice als. Incming animals shuld be quarantined fr at least 7 days (21 if pssible) n pasture that will nt be used by the rest f the herd and where there can be n ver the fence cntact. Ideally check a faecal sample at entry and treat accrdingly. Alternatively, treat n entry with Baycx bvis and fur days f Panacur. Wrming prducts cme frm three families f chemicals, althugh the trade names fr these drugs vary cnsiderably. The three families are the Avermectins (e.g. Ivmec/Panmec), the Levamisles and the Benzimedazles (e.g. Panacur). The drugs which treat cccidial disease are frm a different class altgether. Cnsult yur vet t help yu decide which is the mst apprpriate treatment in each instance. It is als imprtant t give alpacas the crrect dse f any anti-parasitic drug, as the dse rate in alpacas is ften very different frm what might be written n the bttle fr sheep r cattle. The dse rates f the cmmnly used drugs are given belw: Panacur 10% ral suspensin (Shake befre use) 2ml per 10kg rally (4 times the sheep dse) (In cases f cnfirmed/suspected Nematdirus r whipwrm infectin treat fr 4 cnsecutive days). Ivmec/Panmec injectin 1ml per 33kg sub-cutaneusly. Baycx bvis 3ml per 10kg rally. Nte that weights shuld be runded up t the nearest 10kg fr all treatments in adults and up t the nearest 5kg fr crias. Nutritin The successful feeding f alpacas is a cmplex tpic and nly a brief utline will be given here. All diets will need t cntain the crrect balance f the fllwing elements: water, energy, prtein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Because f their Suth American rigins, alpacas have a relatively efficient digestive system when cmpared with sheep and cattle. Hwever, it must als be remembered that grwth, pregnancy and lactatin place additinal demands n an animal s metablism which must be catered fr. Feeds and feeding requirements are always assessed in terms f dry matter (DM) i.e. discunting the percentage/weight f the feed that is water. Adult alpacas will vluntarily ingest arund 1.5% f their BW as dry matter daily when nn-pregnant and nn-lactating. This means that a 70kg alpaca will cnsume ~1kg DM daily, which fr example, culd take the frm f ~5kg f lush pasture (which is ~20% DM) r 1.2kg f pasture hay (~90% DM). This daily dry matter intake (DMI) needs t cntain all f an animal s daily nutritinal requirements. Gd quality frage alne may be enugh t supprt alpacas withut additinal metablic demands, and gd Spring pasture may even prvide enugh energy and prtein fr grwing, late pregnancy r lactating animals. Hwever, these animals with higher nutritinal demands will ften require sme f their diet t be made up f cncentrates (e.g. sugar beet, calf pellets, ats r peas) t allw them t ingest sufficient amunts f energy, prtein, vitamins and minerals. A maximum f 25% f DMI can be cncentrates. Regular cnditin scring f animals is a cheap but vital tl, which is mre reliable than bdyweight measurement alne. Each animal is palpated in the lumbar regin and smetimes als ver the ribs.

A scre between 1 (emaciated) and 5 (bese) is assigned. The date and scre f each animal shuld be recrded fr future reference. Practice and cnsistency are the mst imprtant features f reliable cnditin scring. Yur vet can shw yu exactly where t palpate and help yu decide what scre t assign. Overweight animals need less feed, underweight animals need mre r better quality feed. Remember t intrduce new feeds slwly ver 10-14 days t allw the micrbes in the gastrintestinal tract t adjust. Vitamins and Minerals: Camelids have evlved t live in an envirnment which receives a large amunt f sunlight and therefre ultravilet (UV) light. The UV radiatin absrbed by the alpaca s skin is used t prduce vitamin D. This vitamin is invlved in bne grwth and skin health, as well regulating calcium and ther mineral levels in the bdy. Yu may be aware f the disease in humans knwn as Rickets, whereby bnes are nt calcified prperly and becme bendy and misshapen. A similar cnditin can ccur in alpacas living in the envirnment that we have in the United Kingdm due t the relative lack f UV expsure. This has necessitated supplementatin f alpacas in the UK with either ral r injectable frms f vitamin D. At Larkmead we cmmnly use the injectable frm called Duphafral ADE. The dse is 0.5-1ml/25kg. Grwing animals are ften given 3 dses (Nvember, January, March). All animals shuld receive at least 1 injectin in Nvember, whilst pregnant females shuld receive at least 2 (Nvember, January). Many wners als supplement their animals all year rund with Camelibra, a cmplementary feed prduced by GWF Nutritin cntaining imprtant vitamins and minerals. The recmmended feeding rate is 1g/kg bdyweight. Teeth Incisir Teeth: The 6 incisr teeth f the alpaca grw cnstantly, but are cntinually wrn dwn thrugh grazing. Hwever, if they are nt ideally ppsed with the hard pad f the upper jaw, they have a tendency t becme ver-lng and can eventually hinder the animal s ability t graze. Fr animals with this cnditin, we use a Dremmel type burring apparatus t file the incisrs dwn t the apprpriate length, smetimes under sedatin if this is required. Such dental burring is a delicate prcedure which shuld nly be undertaken when truly required by a vet r a hrse dentist wh has experience f wrking with camelids. Breeders are attempting t breed ut this type f tth prblem and we wuld encurage yu nt t breed frm animals with severe prblems like this. An under-sht lwer jaw f less than 5mm is acceptable, but if under-sht by mre than this then the animal shuld nt be bred frm. Fighting Teeth: Males will develp a tri f fighting teeth psitined behind the incisr teeth and in frnt f the mlar teeth, tw n the upper and ne n the lwer jaw. In females these teeth are usually rudimentary. Hwever, in males the teeth can becme angled and extremely sharp and are capable f slicing thrugh tendns, ligaments and bld vessels. Fighting males will ften attempt t castrate ne anther! As such, trimming the fighting teeth t remve the sharp pints is advisable n welfare grunds, usually when the male is arund three years ld. This can be carried ut by yur veterinary surgen using bstetrical wire r a Dremmel burring apparatus. Sufficient restraint and ften sedatin is required.

Tth Rt Abscesses: Tth rt abscesses are a cmmn prblem in alpacas. They require treatment f sme kind in the majrity f cases and d nt nrmally self-reslve. We are unsure why alpacas seem mre prne t this prblem than sheep, but it is mst prbably t d with the different feeding they are expsed t in the UK cmpared with their Suth American rigins. The abscesses begin when fd material wedges itself between the gum and the tth, setting up small pckets f material n which bacteria can grw. These bacteria then slwly mve their way dwn the side f the teeth t the tth rt where an abscess frms. The bny surrundings prevent the bdy fighting the infectin and remving infected material in the nrmal way. Onging inflammatin and infectin causes the bne t re-mdel and swell. This swelling f the jawline is usually the first sign nticed by an wner and may be accmpanied by weight lss due t reduced feed intake because f dental pain. Eventually, in a large number f cases, the abscess will burst thrugh the skin and creamy pus is seen exuding frm the swllen area. Apprximately 50% f cases will respnd t flushing and a lng curse f antibitics at high dses. The ther half will require surgery t curette (scp ut) the rtten bny material and allw the area t drain. It may als be necessary t remve lse r rtten teeth. In sme severe cases multiple teeth rts are affected and the prgnsis can be pr. The majrity f cases will reslve with time and treatment, allwing the animal t return t nrmality. Stephen Greenhalgh & Graeme McPhersn, January 2010. With thanks t Tm Clarke MRCVS.