Alpaca Health and
|
By the time that you figure out that an alpaca is sick, it can be a medical emergency.
Fortunately, alpacas are extremely robust, and rarely have health concerns. But it is important to know about some of the more common and more dangerous alpaca diseases just in case.
First, I must let you know that I am not a veterinarian, and I do not play a veterinarian on TV either. So, please consult with your own camelid veterinarian about your alpaca health concerns.
It is very important to really know each of your alpacas individually. When you are around your alpacas frequently, you will notice when one behaves slightly abnormally.
Perhaps the alpaca is not eating as much as usual. Or perhaps it just seems out of sorts. It is best to perform health assessments whenever you are suspicious about alpaca health.
By the way, excellent alpaca care can prevent many of these medical problems.
If you are in an area with plenty of white-tailed deer which have access to the vicinity of your pastures, then you should be concerned about meningeal worm. This parasite is devastating to the neurological system. Most alpaca owners use Ivermectin monthly to prevent meningeal worm.
Gastrointestinal parasites are a fact of life with livestock. But, you can minimize parasite risks with the following techniques.
- Avoid alpaca overcrowding
- Maintain good pasture management including pasture rotation
- Prevent overgrazing which causes ingestion of soil parasites
- Clean the community dung piles daily to reduce parasite load
- Perform periodic fecal sampling on your herd
- Reduce exposure to other livestock
Symptoms of gastrointestinal parasites can include diarrhea, constipation, poor weight gain, decreased appetite, increased appetite, and fatigue.
The most common gastrointestinal parasite is the strongylus worm officially known as Camelostrongylus mentulatus. This parasite is found in the third compartment of the rumen. It can migrate to the stomach and cause gastritis. There are several antihelmintics or wormers to consider for treatment options.
Coccidiosis is a protozoan disease from Eimeria species resulting in severe diarrhea particularly to young crias.
Toxoplasmosis is another protozoan disease from Toxoplasmosis gondii that causes abortion during late pregnancy. Although barn cats can be useful to minimize the rodent population, they can be responsible for transmission of toxoplasmosis organisms.
Then, there are the usual mites, lice, and ticks that annoy most livestock. Ticks can also transmit various diseases such as Lyme disease, and can cause tick paralysis.
West Nile Virus or WNV has become more widespread throughout North America. Trying to reduce the natural habitat for mosquitoes on your property may help decrease risk of this illness to your alpacas.
Bovine Viral Diarrhea Disease or BVD is a concern for alpacas because it causes abortions as well as diarrhea. Alpacas may be persistently infected and may transmit the virus to other animals although they are asymptomatic themselves. Many farms test their crias in order to maintain a BVD-free farm. Only BVD-free alpacas are allowed at
alpaca shows.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease or FMD is a highly contagious disease. It is only a mild disease in alpacas, but can cause significant production losses especially in dairy cattle. Countries often require culling (killing) of all livestock with this disease in order to reduce transmission. Thus, FMD may be lethal to alpacas during this culling process.
Rabies is yet another viral disease that is important in endemic areas. Vaccination is available for alpaca health.
Clostridium perfringens is an extremely dangerous bacteria particularly for young cria. This bacteria is found in the soil where it can remain dormant as cysts for years. It causes an acute diarrheal illness that is usually fatal. It is best to keep your alpaca herd out of muddy conditions in order to minimize exposure to this bacteria.
Clostridium tetani produces the bacterial disease more familiarly known as tetanus.
Alpaca health can be enhanced with the CDT vaccination. This vaccine is available for types C and D of Clostridium perfringens and for the toxoid of Clostridium tetani (T).
Alpacas can also develop jaw bone abscesses from bacteria called Actinomyces bovis. The maxilla and/or mandible may appear lumpy. However, abscessed teeth can cause similar symptoms.
Dermatophytes are organisms that cause various skin conditions resulting in lost hair and scaly patches. They can often be managed with topical treatment.
So far we have been discussing infectious diseases that can affect alpaca health. However, there are also non-infectious health conditions.
Gastric ulcers damage the lining of the stomach. Hepatic lipidosis or fatty liver disease is a condition where the liver accumulates too much fat.
The nasolacrimal ducts can become blocked resulting in excess tearing. Conjunctivitis is infection of the conjunctival membrane lining the eye and eyelids. Corneal ulcers are rather common in alpacas.
Crias, pregnant dams, herdsires, and geriatric alpacas have many of their own concerns affecting their alpaca health.
Again, alpacas rarely have any medical problems. But you want to know about these alpaca diseases just in case. Hopefully, you now know more about alpaca health!
Return to Top of Alpaca Health Page
Return HOME
