Health and diseases

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

In an emergency situation concerning an alpaca, contact the following for help and advice:

Pat Bentley (01931 714373 or 01931 714380)
Val Fullerlove (01684 310214)
Philip O'Conor (07801 109243)
Graham Reed (07802 263589)

In an emergency concerning a llama or other camelid, contact:

Liz Butler (01737 823375)

If you are experiencing problems with bTB, please contact:

Dianne Summers 07949 511316 or 01209 822422

To find details of camelid vets, see www.camelidvets.org

************************************************************************************************

Bovine Tuberculosis

Alpacas are at risk from TB. 

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Click here for the TB Awareness Information Pack being distributed at the BAS TB Awareness Meetings. (This is a 2.5MB pdf file.)

Click here for the article: You have TB in your Herd – What's Next?

Click here for the BAS Self-declaration Form

Click here for a list of approved disinfectants for TB.

***********************************************************************************************

Bluetongue

Camelids can be affected by Bluetongue. For the latest information, please see the Defra website

12 June 2010

Great Britain has been designated as a BTV8 Lower Risk Zone en route to re-establishing its BTV-free status. The island of Ireland is BTV-free and the European Continent is BTV8-infected.

Animals cannot move from the Infected Zone into the Lower Risk Zone unless they have been vaccinated using a licensed vaccine. 

Because there is no licensed vaccine for alpacas, and the very little chance the vaccine will ever be licensed, it is no longer possible to move alpacas from anywhere in mainland Europe into Britain. Nor is it possible to move alpacas from the GB into Europe and back again, even if they are vaccinated. 

It is still possible for animals coming in from other continents to transit through Europe under strict control. It is permitted for alpacas to move from GB to Europe.

For the latest map of the Bluetongue restricted zones in Europe, click here

***********************************************************************************************

Diagnosis of camelid diseases

The Veterinary Laboratories Agency has produced an aide-memoire for the diagnosis of common disease syndromes in camelids. It can be downloaded here. The tests can be arranged through your vet

***********************************************************************************************

  • Owners should be aware that a number of plants are poisonous to alpacas and should take steps to ensure that they are removed from paddocks. For details of the effects of various poisonous plants and a list of a number of common ones that can harm alpacas, click here.
     
  • Regularly catch and run your hands over your animals. A fully fleeced animal may not necessarily show outward signs of malnutrition. Body score them, check for burrs and brambles, especially between the back legs because faeces and urine can collect and fly strike can occur.
     
  • Heavily fleeced animals should have their fibre trimmed around the tail and down the rear legs to avoid faeces and urine contamination. Fly strike can also occur on other parts of the body, therefore a thorough inspection of the entire animal is recommended. Vets can advise on products to prevent fly strike.
     
  • If possible, weigh your animals regularly. Weight is often indicative of health; sudden and rapid weight loss should be investigated further.
     
  • A sick alpaca is likely to spend more time sitting or lying stretched out and is reluctant to get up. They will get left behind as the rest of the herd moves on and may look hunched and depressed.
     
  • Foot trimming should be carried out, on average, two to three times a year. However, nails will grow at different rates on different animals. Check nails by actually lifting the feet. They can sometimes look okay from above but by lifting the foot you can clearly see if nails are longer than the pad. Nails left unattended can twist and deform the toes.
     
  • Teeth should also be checked at least twice a year. Like toenails, growth will vary from alpaca to alpaca. Teeth that are too long can cause jaw misalignment and teeth that are too short can cause difficulty feeding. Always seek expert advice to correct any irregularities.
     
  • Males should be checked from approximately 18 months old for the presence of fighting teeth and a professional person should remove these.
  • Routine husbandry for the entire herd includes six monthly vaccinations against clostridial diseases. Discuss with your vet a suitable start-up vaccination programme and products that may be suitable.
     
  • There are two processes by which parasitic worms can be controlled. Firstly, by taking regular dung samples for analysis and only worming animals when worm counts are high. Secondly, by routinely worming all animals every six months regardless. Discuss with your vet.
     
  • Shearing should be carried out annually. Suris can be shorn every other year, but Huacayas need to be shorn every year.
     
  • During the long winter months it may be an idea to give your herd a natural boost by giving them A, D, and E vitamins. This is especially important for cria because it helps to promote good bone growth and development. A deficiency of vitamin D can lead to rickets.
     
  • In wet conditions, liver fluke can cause problems in some animals. It is more prevalent in some geographical locations. Discuss with your vet and, if necessary, take precautions.
     
  • Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease that affects alpacas, particularly young animals. A number of products are available which can be used to control the problem.
     
  • Diarrhoea, or excessive scouring, especially in young cria, can be fatal if not treated quickly and veterinary assistance should be sought immediately.

 

 

 

 

"

 

For a document from the Health Protection Agency, click below:

 "Reducing the risk of human m.bovis infection (bTB). Information for Farmers

Go to home page »