26 Camelid Lecture 1: Introduction and Routine Procedures

Alpaca (Huacaya)

What domestic species camelid is this, more fluffy like a poodle?

Alpaca (Suri)

What domestic species camelid is this, less common, more like a giant yorkie?

Huacaya alpaca

Which domestic alpaca species does NOT get wet when it rains because of their fluffy fiber?

Llama

What domestic species camelid is this?

Llama and Alpaca (Suri and Huacaya)

Name the domestic species of camelids:

Vicunas

What wild species camelid is this?

Guanacos

What wild species camelid is this?

Llamas (almost 2x as big)

Which is LARGER, alpacas or llamas

Vicunas (around 12 microns)

Which camelid has the finest fiber of all wild and domestic species?

ALPACA: straight ears

LLAMAS: curved ears

What is the difference between the ear shape in alpacas and llamas?

Guanacos

Which is LARGER, vicunas or guanacos?

South American Camelids

What is an SAC?

a. 18-22 microns

d. fewer scales (smooth, less itchy)

e. softer, warmer, and lighter fiber

Select which of the following parameters are correct for camelid fiber:

a. 18-22 microns

b. 16-30 microns

c. more water resistant

d. fewer scales (smooth, less itchy)

e. softer, warmer, and lighter fiber

f. more scales and central medulla

b. 16-30 microns

c. more water resistant

f. more scales and central medulla

Select which of the following parameters are correct for sheep wool:

a. 18-22 microns

b. 16-30 microns

c. more water resistant

d. fewer scales (smooth, less itchy)

e. softer, warmer, and lighter fiber

f. more scales and central medulla

Iridic granules (aka corpora nigra, same as what horse has)

What is the name of the ruffles in the eye to limit entrance of light into the eye in camelids?

Llamoid

What is the term that refers to all 4 south american camelid species?

Cria

What is the term for a baby llama or alpaca?

Calf

What is the term for a baby camel?

Macho

What is the term for a male camelid?

Hembra

What is the term for a female camelid?

Herd

What is the term for a GROUP of south american camelids?

Huarizo

What is the term for an offspring of an alpaca and llama?

Guanacos

Which is braver and will likely try to intimated you if you approach, vicunas or guanacos?

1. Fiber

2. packing (travel)

3. shows

4. companion animals

5. livestock guardians (to guard sheep because camelids are more brave)

6. tax break

Why would people own south american camelids?

Kush/cush

What is the term for camelids laying in a sternal position?

Locks

What is the term for a cluster of fibers on camelids?

Humming

What is the term for the sound that camelids make?

Dung pile

What is the name for the fecal pile that camelids make?

White because you can dye the fiber easier

What color of llamas are preferred for producers and why?

25% of their body weight

How much weight can camelids carry or "pack"? How much of their body weight?

Alert

Describe the camelid body language

Submission = lowering head

Describe the camelid body language

Stay away (angry, likely to spit or kick)

Describe the camelid body language

Warning

Describe the camelid body language

Flehmen response

Describe the camelid body language

Cush

Describe the position of this camelid

15-25 years (topline gets more boney as they get older + tendon laxity)

About how long do camelids live?

Modified ruminant

What is the GI tract of camelids like?

Spit and kick

What are some defenses camelids have?

About 90% are deaf

What defect do south american camelids with a white coat and blue eyes have?

Higher

Camelids are better adapted to higher or lower altitude

To get them to not spit and to cover their eyes to lower stress

Why might you cover a camelids face with a towel for restraint?

Less

It is better to use more or less people to restrain camelids

2

Camelids have a very short nasal bone and around their nostrils is basically entirely soft tissue. Where is the best placement for the halter?

1. GI parasites (haemonchus, eimeria)

2. ectoparasites (mites, lice)

3. unable to stand (downer)

4. hepatic lipidosis

5. neurologic disease

6. tooth root abscess

7. cria: congenital defect, FPT, hyperglycemia

Name some overrepresented medical problems in camelids

Cats (they are likely to get hepatic lipidosis)

Camelids are more similar to cats or dogs when it comes to their body's response to being off feed

1. Deworming

2. vaccines

3. shearing

4. toenail trim

5. BCS

6. FAMACHA

7. fighting teeth trimming

What routine procedures are often done in camelids

Small genetic pool

Why do we see more congenital defects in crias in the U.S. compared to other countries?

CD/T or 8 way clostridium, rabies, E. coli, Leptospirosis, West Nile Virus

bolded are MOST ROUTINE

There are NO established guidelines or labeled vaccines for camelids in the U.S. This means they are based on risk. What do we tend to vaccinate them for?

Clostridium perfringens type C and T + tetanus

What does the CD/T vaccine cover in camelids?

CD/T

What is the most accepted vaccine used in camelids?

8 way

Which vaccine should absolutely NOT be used in pregnant camelids, CD/T or 8 way

First dose at 2-3 mo. Booster after 3 weeks. Booster every 1 year

When do you give the CD/T vaccine to camelids after birth?

Killed

Rabies vaccine is MLV or killed

3-4 mo of age, booster yearly

When do you give the rabies vaccine in camelids?

Lepto 5

How many serovars of lepto are covered in the camelid vaccine?

Every 6 months

How often do you have to booster leptospirosis?

West Nile

Which vaccine must be given in 3 doses, 3 weeks apart to have appropriate protective levels in camelids?

Every 6 mo.

How often do you trim the toenails of camelids?

1 cc pre breeding then again before parturition

When do you give breeding camelids E. coli vaccine?

At least 1x per year to prevent heat stress

How often do you shear camelids? Why?

Remove tip of toenails, then trim lateral sides

What order do you trim the toenail edges in camelids?

Barrel trim

What is the name of the shearing technique where you make sure the thin skin on the ventrum and midsection is sheared to help them cool

Fighting teeth

What is this?

Gigli wire or dremmel = leave 2-3 mm from the gum

You do not fully remove fighting teeth in camelids. How do you trim them? What tool do you use? How short do you cut them?

(I 1/3, C 1/1, PM 2/2, M 3/3) x 2

Give the dental formula of camelids

Upper 3rd incisior + Upper AND lower canines

Which teeth are the fighting teeth in camelids?

Haemonchus contortus anemia assessment + MM color

You can FAMACHA score camelids. What are they for?

TEMP: 98-102F

HR: 60-90 bpm

RR: 10-30 rpm

Contractions: 3-4/min.

Name the normal vitals for camelids

4-5

Camelids that score WHAT on FAMACHA should be treated for worms

Every 2-3 weeks

How often should you FAMACHA score camelids in the high season?

5 (using 0.5 markers)

What is the BCS score of camelids out of normally?

b. prescapular

c. superficial inguinal

Select the lymph nodes which can be felt on camelids when they are NOT enlarged:

a. submandibular

b. prescapular

c. superficial inguinal

d. retropharyngeal

e. popliteal

2% of body weight

What should the dry matter intake of camelids be?

Because they have higher digestibility

Why is dry matter intake lower in camelids compared to other species?

150 lb alpaca needs 3 lbs/day (because they need 2% intake)

DM requirements x 100 = 3 lbs x 100 = 300.

300 / 90% (aka the DM of the hay) = 3.3 lbs

An alpaca weighs 150 lbs. The hay you are feeding is 90% DM. How much hay do you need to feed per day?

3

How many chambers of the stomach do camelids have?

3

Which chamber is considered the "true stomach" in camelids?

SQ

What is the preferred route of medication administration in camelids?

Semimembranous/Semitendinosis

If you decide to give IM medications to camelids, where do you give it?

Plasma administration (but bascially avoided)

Why would you use intraperitoneal medication administration in camelids?

Left flank

Is it preferred to do the right or left flank when doing intraperitoneal medication administration in camelids?

60 mL/kg/day

What amount of fluids are maintenance for camelids?

Small, elliptical, flat

Describe the RBC of camelids

Higher

Do camelids have a higher or lower leukocyte count compared to other species

Eosinophils

What WBC do camelids (llamas) have more of compared to other species?

Makes distinguishing between regenerative and nonregenerative anemia difficult

Reticulocytes are seen normally in camelids. What does this make difficult to do?