Camelid health & welfare

How do you BCS camelids?

What is the technique of taking bloods from a camelid?

• Go down the neck - feel the bony protuberance of C5

• Slide finger medially - in jugular groove (will not see vein rise)

  

• Insert the needle just above your finger

What are the different things to consider when treating camelids with fluids?

• 2ml/kg/hr and deficits, care with boluses (don't do for more than 30mins) susceptible to pulmonary oedema

• Care with glucose - many cria are hyperglycaemic when ill, also a lot of adults are insulin resistant

• Youngsters & Adults: use alkaline fluids (hartmans)

When placing a catheter which location will you go for?

• Right jugular

• Skin nick before because the skin is tough

• Always place down towards the heart

• Can go for cephaliic in young crias that are still nursing

What classes as hypoproteinaemia and how can you rectify this?

• Less than 20g/l albumin, TP less than 40g/l

• Plasma transfusion

What do you think about this alpaca

• Stress lines under eyes and open mouth breathing

• Stressed (leave this animal alone)

What do you suspect this is due to?

• Free fluid in the abdomen

• SI obstruction

What are the common causes of colic?

• Phytobezoar

• Enteritis

• Spiral colon torsion

Where would a microchip be placed?

• Upper left neck

• Care with angle (30-45 degrees) - to make sure you don't go into the spinal canal

What vaccinations should you give?

• Clostridial

Others as required

• Bluetongue

• Orf, leptospirosis, salmonellosis

• Rota & Coronavirus, E.coli

• Abortion agents

What are the clinical signs associated with endoparasites in camelids?

• Soft faeces (rather than diarrhoea)

• Ill thrift

• Anaemia

• Malaise and death

How many eggs in the faeces for the different endoparasites indicate a clinical infection?

• Trichostrongyle-type = 300-400

• Fluke, Nematodirus = 1

• Haemonchus, Lungworm = any are noteworthy

How can you aid reducing pasture contamination?

Poo-picking (like horses)

What are the wormer dose rates for camelids?

• Benzimidazoles

  • 10 mg/kg (= 2x sheep dose) (albendazole never give more than this , toxicity)

• Levamisol (only if able to weigh, toxicity common if get dose even slightly wrong)

  • 6 mg/kg injection, 8 mg/kg by mouth

• MCLs

  • Generally 1 – 1.5x cattle / sheep dose

  • Moxidectin for haemonchus: 0.4 mg/kg oral (horse dose)

• Monepantel

  • 3 x sheep dose

When would you dose for fluke and what would you use?

• High forecast: dose 6 weeks later

• Typical (sheep): Oct & Jan

• Closantel, Albendazole (not in pregnant)

What is the most pathogenic cocci species that affect camelids?

E. macusaniensis

When should you treat camelids for cocci?

• Early-born crias @ weaning (6mo)

• Late-born crias @ 2-3 mo

• Adults after stress

• Incoming animals

  (moving troughs can help)

What are the common types of mange that you see?

• Chorioptic

  

• Sarcoptic

  

(skin scrape to distinguish, interdigital space)

How do you treat the different types of mange?

• Ivermectins

  • Injectable for Sarcoptic mange (invading mite)

  • Pour-on for Chorioptic mange (surface spreading mite)

• Typically 3 - 4 treatments 7 – 10 days apart

• Treat the whole group

What additional treatment may you need to give to the severe mange cases?

• Shampoo (keratolytic)

• Topical acaricide (Deosect, Frontline)

• Skin conditioner

• Antibiotics (systemic)

• Steroid? if very severe and not pregnant

What are the signs of blow-fly strike?

• Fleece stuck together

• Skin wounds

What is this showing, you have has 3 repeated skin scraped for mange?

• Munge

• Hyperkeratosis

• Typically weaning age & adolescent

• Idiopathic, i.e. cause unknown

• Symptomatic treatment (like additional mange treatment)

What would you need to rule out when you see this?

• Caseous Lymphadenitis

• Take sample and look before draining any assumed abscess

If you suspect gastric ulcers how would you treat this?

• Systemic antacids (pantoprazole) - not oral

• You can give these prophylactically if an animal is inap

What is the main ddx for anaemia?

Cardio-vascular compromise

What are the different things that can cause anaemia?

• Chronic disease

• Haemonchosis, fluke

• Gastric ulceration

• Haemolysis

• Ivermectin toxicity

• Mycoplasma haemollamae

What is the difference between ataxia and weakness?

When can we castrate camelids?

and what is the preparation and pre-op procedures?

• Over 18months of age

• In preparation, the animal must be covered for tetanus and concentrated withheld for 24hrs. Immediately pre-op, antibiotics and NSAIDs. Check that it has 2 testicles!!

what are the anaesthesia options for a castration?

• Local infiltration

• Triple stun

• Caudal epidural

How should the alpaca be prepared for castration? (restraint wise)

• Tie out like horse

• Nose below larynx

• Blindfold

What are the haemostasis options for the blood supply of the testicles?

• Ligature (above pampiniform plexus)

• Clamp (above pampiniform plexus)

• Twist and pull

What are the top 3 differentials for weight loss?

When is it indicated to trim the incisors?

• Low BCS, quidding.

• Care not to expose pulp cavity

what is this a presentation of?

Dental dx

What are common malpresentations of dystocia?

What can help you deal with dystocia?

• Foot/lower limb caught on pelvic brim

• Carpal flexion

• Head deviation, neck flexion

• Breech

• Twins

• C section is an option!

What is the protocol for a caesarean section?

Local anaesthetic used over GA

When are foetal membranes usually passed? and when is it considered retained?

• Usually passed after 1-3hrs and should weigh from 800-1000 grams

• Retained means longer than 6hrs - give gental pull, oxytocin, systemic check