Alpaca Wellness the most important
concept for your herd
Basic Herd Health -
Herd Health can be very simple if you are consistent, keep good records and manage your herd properly. Performing toe nail care, vaccinations, teeth trims if needed, parasite control, checking gum /eye color, and body score. Keeping paddock condtions clean and safe is important.
Blood Draws -
Drawing blood sounds very scary to most people and is believed that this can only be done by your vet. You can learn to do a jugular draw very easily and by yourself without the help of another person. After a few times of practice, you will be drawing blood well on your own and wonder why you have not learned this task earlier. Blood draws can also be done on young alpacas and cria on the back leg.
PCV - Packed cell Volume
Running a Packed cell volume on your alpacas can give you helpful information about your alpaca prior to running a full blood panel. Not that you shouldnt run a full panel but the PCV is a very good start. It will tell you if your alpaca is anemic. If you alpaca is anemic the other bloodwork will most likely be out of line. In my opinion start with the PCV first and find the underlying cause. Most likely cause in alpacas will be parasites the prime suspect of anemia. Running a fecal would be next, if the fecal is negative than there is a concern for another issue. A PCV are easily checked by drawing blood and spinning the blood in a Micro-Hematocrit Centrufuge. I found mine on Ebay for less than $300.00. They are very easy to use and can give you useful information including PCV and the total protein in the blood. The PCV is a measure for anemia as well as the hydration of the alpaca. It is the solid part of the blood or the concentrion of Red Blood Cells (RBC's). A normal healthy alpaca should have a PCV of 34-36. If the PCV is 24 or less, this is a concern for anemia. Which could be blood loss, liver function, ulcers, or parasites. PCV's that are over 40 is a concern for dehydration or renal disease. PCV that are less the 15 should be considered for a transfusion. PCV's that are higher than 40 should consider IV fluids and the risk of renal shut down.
Total Protein -
Total protein can be checked after you have done a PCV. This is done by cutting the Hematocrit tube with a sharp pair of sissors and placing a drop serum on a Refractometer. The Refractometor can also be bought on Ebay for less than $40.00. This tool will give you information including Total protien of blood, and Specific gravity of urine. Total Protein will tell you if there is a weak immune system. A normal alpaca should have a TP of
5-7.2mg/dl with a healthy average of 6 - 6.2 mg/dl. This is an average Igg of about 1500. You can measure the amount of colostrum intake and passive transfer using TP in a young alpaca. Which should be about 5.4 mg/dl which is about an 800-1200 or more for an Igg. The PCV also needs to be checked when doing a TP to check for passive transfer. The PCV should be 34-36%, if it is higher than dehydration is a suspect and could elevate the TP, giving bad results. Sending an Igg to a lab to be tested is most accurate, but for quick farm results this test can be helpful.
5-7.2mg/dl with a healthy average of 6 - 6.2 mg/dl. This is an average Igg of about 1500. You can measure the amount of colostrum intake and passive transfer using TP in a young alpaca. Which should be about 5.4 mg/dl which is about an 800-1200 or more for an Igg. The PCV also needs to be checked when doing a TP to check for passive transfer. The PCV should be 34-36%, if it is higher than dehydration is a suspect and could elevate the TP, giving bad results. Sending an Igg to a lab to be tested is most accurate, but for quick farm results this test can be helpful.
Parasites
Parasites are a huge concern of a healthy alpaca. Checking for parasites by testing a fecal exam using a 24 hour float is what is found to be most effective. There is no 100% deworming program. All farms have parasites no matter what they want you to believe. Prevention is best, run fecals regularly is very helpful. From personal experience I have found that I have less parasites by controlling the time my alpacas are on the pasture. I do not let the alpacas out on the pasture until the grass is dry, usually mid morning. I never let alpacas out on pasture after it has rained. They are on dry lot until the ground is dry. What have been told and believe makes sense : The grass is wet the parasite goes to the top of the blade and the alpaca grazes and ingest the parasites. By letting the grass dry the parasites stay close to the ground with less chance for the alpaca to ingest. I am not saying I am right but I do believe it works. I rarely worm my herd and my parasites are down very low. My alpacas dont like it very much when they are on dry lot, but they also dont like to be wormed. I think it also helps that 95% of my dry lot is concrete, and this is the area in which they have the poop pile. Easy to clean up and hose off and less they are walking in and ingesting if they would step on hay that has fallen to the ground and they might pick up and eat. There are many parasites that effect alpacas. Haemonchus contortus, commonly referred to as the barber pole worm seems to be the most deadly parasite to alpacas at this time. Shown in the parasite picture above.
Dental issues in alpacas
This is a picture of an alpacas jaw which has had an abcess off and on for years. This alpaca was 14 years old and did have some dental disease. Taking care of dental issues early on can prevent problems in the future. Dental issues cause concern for overall health of the alpaca. Bad teeth can effect kidney and liver and heart function, due to toxins from the bad teeth being released in the stream.
Alpaca wellness can be the most important part of your farm providing quality health
giving you quality alpacas that make you proud.
My mission is simple: Striving to improve herd quality with simple wellness, and compassion.
Teaching you what I have learned to improve your farm.
Since July of 2010 I have been talking to breeders about alpaca wellness. If you are interested in improving your alpacas wellness contact me to schedule a farm consult.
Tana Shaw
815-252-8262
notra62@gmail.com
815-252-8262
notra62@gmail.com
