HERD HEALTH
Always do monthly herd health and keep written records. We use AlpacaEase software. You can print documents and archive files.
Others use hand written applications home made and designed specifically for the Alpaca industry. We began with one but are more comfortable with our electronic recording techniques.
Consider buying a physical restraint device like an Alpaca Chute (we bought one at the very beginning) or a Paca Trapper for use with Herd Health days. If you choose not to obtain one, learn to keep the Alpaca well balanced on three legs as you pick up each foot for nail trimming. It’s easier with two people. Tying them on a shed wall is also helpful.
Buy a digital animal scale; 300 lb. weight limit with .1 to .2 lb. increments is fine. We place ours in the Chute. Most medication is calculated on the weight of the alpaca. It's also very important to know your exact weight of your cria daily to be sure its gaining the appropriate weight.
What to check
We check the following each month during Herd Health:
• Weigh monthly. Most mature Alpacas will usually be between 125-175 lbs. Crias should gain at least .25 lbs. and .50 lbs. per day. Weigh them daily for 2-3 weeks.
• Eyes for clarity, cataracts, damage, and drainage
• Eyelids (conjunctiva) using the FAMACHA Scale. This is a good way to observe anemia issues which can be related to either parasites or lack of iron.
https://web.uri.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/241/FAMACHA-Scoring_Final2.pdf
• Ears for smell, appearance, or ticks (see below.) Smells and/or discharge are indicative of an ear infection. Get a vet involved immediately. Do not treat it with things like hydrogen peroxide. The Alpaca ear canal is L-shaped and cannot drain liquids as easily as a human ear. Very tiny amounts of Ivermectin to prevent ear tick infestations is an exception to this advice.
• Teeth grow all of an Alpaca’s lifetime. Front teeth are inspected for damage, growth patterns and deformities. In rare occurrences the front teeth might need to be trimmed. A Dremel Rotary tool or Tooth o Matic device (our preferred use) can be used to this end. The teeth should normally align at the front of the upper dental pad.
• Feel along the jaw line where their molars are for swollen or tender spots. Get a vet involved if problems are found. Abcesses are always possible.
• Body score monthly with your hand just behind the withers. We use a 9-point scale with 1 = emaciated, 5 = perfect, and 9 = obese. Some Alpacas carry their weight lower so always use in combination with a scale. (While we don’t have a picture of the 9 point scale, an adjustment can be made for the numbers of this 5-point scale found at:
http://islandalpaca.com/alpaca_health_care.php#Body_Scoring
• Check their fleece for parasite issues or skin infections.
• Check underneath the tail for both males and females for signs of drainage, damage, or diarrhea.
• Trim toenails monthly. Not all may need it but don’t skip looking at them. White toenails usually grow faster.
• If you suspect any illnesses at all, be sure to take their temperature rectally with a digital thermometer. Test the thermometer to ensure that it is working properly. Get a vet involved if appropriate.
• If you have deer nearby, and you are in an affected area (found in Texas and eastern U.S.), monthly (28-30-32 days) shots (given subQ) of Ivermectin (or generic) kill extant Meningeal worms before they infect the brain. Don’t miss/delay your shots. It’s the cheapest insurance you will ever purchase!
• You can give liquid probiotics monthly as the final step. See below for more information.
Syringe Techniques
Using a new/sterile syringe and needle pull back on a syringe with the cap on to the amount medication to be withdrawn. Before inserting into the vial, the top of the vial is cleaned by rubbing with an alcohol pad. When the top is dry the needle is inserted into the vial while it is resting on a solid surface and the air is pushed in to keep a vacuum from happening. Turn the vial upside down with the needle tip in it. Draw out the desired amount. When I pull up a syringe it usually takes two or three short 1-2 cc “pulls and pushes” to get a solid line of medicine without bubbles. Pull the needle out of the vial. Recap the needle by scooping the lid up with the needle to prevent inadvertent needle sticks. After it is out of the vial and capped, I pull back on the syringe another tiny amount to create a bubble.
When injecting it into the Alpaca I keep the needle pointed below a 90° angle. The air bubble rises to the top of the medicine and creates an air lock in the tissue so that the medicine doesn’t leak out. With any route of injection, you should withdraw the plunger prior to injecting. You not only want to ensure you are not in a vein in an Inner-Muscle (IM), but also when doing Subcutaneous (SQ), if the plunger snaps back it means you are in the right spot. If it doesn’t snap back, it means you are sucking air and have gone thru the other side of the skin. These are only for SQ or IM, not an Intravenous (IV).
Other Herd Health Issues
Watch your animals (dogs & Alpacas) for head shaking and other symptoms. Consider monthly Ivermectin in their ears to deter infections if your vet agrees. Watch for head shaking. Ticks are not visible to the naked eye.
Use probiotics on a regular basis to ensure good rumen (an Alpaca’s second stomach) health. Don’t give them daily. They are available as a powder which you can use weekly or as a top-dress on their feed pellets. We utilize 5-10 cc of liquid form per Alpaca. Obtain them from:
https://www.naturs-way.com/prod.htm
Be sure not to order in the hotter months so that it doesn’t degrade them.
TRANSPORTING https://www.plumcreekalpacas.com/page/10283/transporting
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