Illness in alpacas
Getting to know your alpacas and their habits is key to spotting potential problems.
A sick alpaca is likely to spend more time sitting or lying stretched out and may be reluctant to get up. They may get left behind as the rest of the herd moves on and look hunched and depressed. Suppressed appetite is also often a sign of illness.
Always involve your vet if you are concerned about the health of your alpacas.
Flystrike
Risk highest in warm and wet weather – treat immediately.
Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea, or excessive scouring, especially in young cria, can be fatal if not treated quickly and veterinary assistance should be sought immediately.
bTB
bTB is a notifiable disease that can kill alpacas.
Johnes Disease
Johnes Disease is an incurable bacterial, infectious disease that affects the intestines. Symptoms can include include weight loss, lethargy and kushing more than usual as well as diarrhoea.
Bluetongue
Blue Tongue is an insect borne viral disease affecting all ruminants including camelids. Bluetongue is a notifiable disease in the UK and suspected cases must be reported immediately. Midges carry the bluetongue virus. The disease spreads when infected midges bite an animal affected by the disease. The midge season is normally March to September. The weather (especially temperature and wind direction) affects how the disease can spread. Alpacas may show little if any clinical signs of infection – if infection is suspected your vet can request an Elisa test for antibodies and real time PCR for virus. The BAS provides regular updates in its newsletters.
Schmallenberg
The Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is an insect borne viral disease, which is spread by biting midges. It can affect all ruminants (such as sheep, cattle, goats and deer) and camelids (llama and alpaca). Symptoms in adults include fever, and diarrhoea, and can also be the cause of late abortion or birth defects. It does not affect humans.
Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV)
Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) is recognized as a source of disease in alpacas, resulting in reproductive loss and illness. This virus has potential to spread within the alpaca herd so must be taken seriously.