Camelid Physiology and Adaptations

• General information:
• Camelids include both camels and South American camels.
• Camels:
• Dromedary: one hump
• Bacterian: two humps
• South American camels:
• Vicuna: no hump
• Guanaco: hump(s)
• Camelids possess a three-compartment stomach unlike ruminants that have four.
• They ferment food and chew cud in the same way as ruminants.
• Camelid feet are called toes instead of hooves.
• The red blood cells (RBCs) are oval-shaped and lack central pallor.
• They have more RBCs in circulation compared to other mammals.
• Camelids use communal dung piles for urination and defecation.
• They are highly susceptible to heat stress, requiring caution when handling them in high humidity and heat.

Llama vs. Alpaca

• Llamas are twice the size of alpacas.
• Llamas have two coats: outer and inner.
• Llamas have banana-shaped ears.
• Llamas weigh over 400lbs.
• Llamas have coarse fleece.
• Llamas are very brave.
• Llamas can carry heavy packs.
• Llamas serve as herd guards.
• Alpacas are most commonly Huacaya: crimped locks
• Rare alpacas are Suri: long lustrous uncrimped locks
• Alpacas weigh around 150lbs.
• Alpacas have soft and luxurious fleece.
• Alpacas are very gentle and timid
• Alpacas can learn tricks.
• Alpacas need protection

Behavior

• Alpacas are strong herd animals, while llamas are more fierce and independent.
• Both alpacas and llamas are social creatures needing companionship.
• They can coexist alongside other herd animals.
• Single llamas are protective of others.
• Both species are curious and investigative.
• Both will establish dynamic hierarchies.
• Alpacas tend to run, whereas llamas are prone to attack.

Spitting

• Spitting is a defense to ward off predators, perceived threats, annoying suitors, and to establish pecking orders.
• Commonly seen in those previously mistreated.
• Llamas (and rarely alpacas) will spit if they feel threatened
• Usually, a warning is given by flattening the ears first.
• What appears to be spit is regurgitated stomach acids.

Fighting

• Aggressive males may spar, biting at each other's necks in an attempt to sever the carotid artery.

Berserk Male Syndrome

• Improper imprinting on humans can occur if male llamas/alpacas are excessively handled as crias.
• This is because they grow up viewing humans as other llamas/alpacas.
• Minimize contact with young males, particularly if bottle-fed and castrate males young.

Cushing

• Cushing refers to the lying down position they take with their legs tucked underneath.
• They spend a lot of time cushing.

Response to Plain

• Camelids tend to isolate themselves when they are feeling ill or experiencing pain.
• They might lie down or stand quietly.
• Monitoring the passage of urine and feces is essential.

Alpaca Behavior

• Alpacas are known to be intelligent, alert, non-aggressive, and extremely inquisitive.
• Communication is achieved through humming, a tonal language their owners quickly understand.
• Body language is used, such as neck posturing, ear/tail positioning, head tilt.
• An alarm call is used to alert the herd and human keepers to dangers.
• Alpacas rarely spit at people (unless frightened or abused), but use this for complaints with each other.

Restraint And Handling

• Unless they are kept as pets handled regularly, minimal restraint is best.
• Ideally, the owner(s) should catch and handle them, if possible.
• Sedation is very common for hands-on procedures.
• Move the herd from a larger area to successively smaller areas.
• Don't turn your back on threatened llamas, and don't chase them.

Haltering And Leading

• Halters are used to restrain llamas and alpacas, make sure they are fitted properly.
• If the halter slips down, it will obstruct breathing and cause the animal to panic.
• If too loose can injure septum cartilage.
• Walk behind the shoulder when leading.
• Never leave halters on the animals when turned loose.

Cria Restraint

• Crias can be restrained with one arm around the chest and the other around the rump.

Physical Exam

• Temperature:
• Adult: 99-101°F
• Cria: 101-102°F.
• The easiest was to gauge overall health.
• Taken on a daily basis if cria to gauge against sepsis/illness.
• Direct sun, and colors of the fleece play a role in accurate temperature reading.
• HR/pulse:
• Adult: 60-90 bpm
• Cria: 70-100 bpm
• Accomplished by using a stethoscope
• Rates will be elevated during colic, uterine torsions, pain, dehydration, sepsis, and fevers.
• RR:
• Adult: 10-30 bpm
• Cria: 20-40 bpm The range of breaths is dependent various responses like environmental factors and stressors.
• MM:
• Alpacas are obligate nasal breathers.
• Mucus membrane is a good assessment of health in mouth.
• Gums should be pink and moist not black
• Pale gums indicate stress/anemia
• Red gums indicate heat stress/sepsis/dehydration.
• Scleral Color:
• A pinkish-white color with visable blood vessels is healthy.
• Pale could indicate overwhelming parasite infection
• Red and inflamed could indicate a severe infection/sepsis

Camelid Dentition

• The dental formula can be used to estimate the age of camelids, which have heterodont dentition.
• Tooth eruption:
  • Incisors: 2–4 years
  • Canine: 2–3.5 years
  • Premolars: 3.5–5 years
  • Molars: 6 months–4 years

Ageing Camels From Milk Teeth

• (1) Newborn: There are no teeth.
• (2) One month:
• Upper jaw: 2 cheek teeth on each side
• Lower jaw: one cheek tooth on each side 2 front teeth
• (3) Three months:
• Upper jaw: 1 canine, 3 cheek teeth on each side
• Lower jaw: 3 front teeth, 1 canine, 2 cheek teeth on each side (4) Six months:
• Upper jaw: 1 front, 1 canine, 3 cheek teeth on each side
• Lower jaw: 3 front, 1 canine, 2 cheek teeth on each side

Injection Sites

• SQ/SC Injection:
  • Base of the neck cranial to the scapula is preferred (the same as in goats/sheep).
  • The thoracic wall, just caudal to the elbow (again, same as goats/sheep)
  • Microchipping is done base of ear.
  • Brisket area has high incidence of abscesses.
• IM Injection:
  • Due to the animals not being for meat, there are various amounts Injection spots to inject.
  • No worries about the carcass blemishes, such as goats/sheep.

Iv Injection

• Sites: jugular, auricular, cephalic, saphenous, lateral thoracic.
• Most easily performed on the jugular vein 18 or 20 gauge x I or 1/2" needle
• Avoid clipping alpacas (takes 18 months to regrow fiber); ask the owner!
• Samples obtained near the jaw separation in order to obtain jugular from carotid.
• A catheter insertion in the antegrade direction.

Shearing

• The best time to shear is at the start of spring, when the weather is warmer to keep the temperature controlled.
• When shearing, leave at least 2 cm to prevent the animals from getting sunburn.

Teeth Care

• Teeth should be flush to each other and not protruding from the mouth.
• Determine if the alpaca needs its teeth trimmed by placing your finger inside the lips where the teeth meet the gums.
• Use a mouth speculum to prevent injury!
• Use tooth-o-matic to file down teeth (dremel tool specifically for alpaca teeth).
• Don't hold Tooth-o-matic on a tooth for longer than 10 seconds. Fighting Teeth should be removed
• All four canine teeth are present in males, but may or may not be present in females. Males develop fighting teeth between 22 and 24 months of age.
• Males have a total of three pairs of fighting teeth (two pairs of canines and one pair of incisors which look like canines).
• The teeth can be used/angled in the mouth, cut the jugular vein, carotid, or testicles, or to mortally wound an opponent.
• The teeth should be removed to prevent injuring eachother, or they get injuries when feeding/playing.
• Prevent breeding with another animal.
• Geldings will NOT develop teeth once it has been removed
• The animal should start trimming between 1–1.5 years of age.

Toe Care

• Long toenails on alpacas on soft ground or lush grass can cause a lot of injuries.
• Injuries include: curving, twisting the toe, pain, and lameness
• Most alpacas require some sort of restraint trimming, such as a chute.
• Using small pruning shearers, goat/sheep trimmer, or horse nippers, start at the back edges of each nail, and work forwards toward the point.
• Don't cut any closer to the edge of the pad or quick (the soft tissue just behind the point of the nail) more than 1/8 inch, since cuts here will bleed, be painful and expose the alpaca to potential infection

Cria Care

• Feel umbilicus for a lump (indicator).
• Coat the umbilicus with betadine or chlorhexadine for prevention.
• Ensure good temp by checking using the rectum to ensure no fever.
• Crias should nurse 1-2 times per hour.

Diseases

• As with all livestock, proper care is vital to disease prevention
• Vaccination Protocols: CDT, Rabies, west Nile (if endemic to the area)
• Feeding management
• Parasite control
• Surveillance of herd

Equine Herpesvirus

• Primarily affects equids, can infect camelids after exposure from an infected horse. clinical signs: severe neurological signs such as seizure, blindness, abnormal behavior, changes in mentations.
• Tx involves supportive care: animals are humanely euthanized

West Nile

• Camelids are infected w/ virus after being fed upon by a infected mosquitos clinical signs: fever, seizure, weakness, muscle tremors, lethargy, staggering, coma and eventually death
• Treatment: Supportive care necessary vaccine protocol preventative care

Bluetongue

• Transmitted by biting flies (culicoides): sever ulceration & lameness in livestock clinical signs - Fever=common, camelids remain carries tx and prevention - Supportive, vaccine available but not approved

Enterotoxemia

• Result from infection by bacteria Clostridium perfringens.
• Infection by c. perfringens Type A tends to be the most lethal clinical signs: bloody diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain, vocalization, convulsion and sudden death
• vaccine protocol + tx support, and antibiotics decrease potential of contract said disease.

Brucellosis

• Camelids are especially sensitive.
• An animal being infected with contaminated food supplies may trigger brucellosis. In Humans it is known as undulant fever. clinical signs: can vary: abortion or stillbirth in, lack of appetite in non pregnant ones.

Caseous Lymphadenitis

• Lymph nodes is a common infections area and sign.
• Caused by bacteria corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, bacteria infiltrate the body
• Clinical signs may show an increase in abscess by pus. treatment - Culling the infected animals as best prevention. antibacterial injections into directly into the lymph nodes.

Alpaca Fever (Streptococcus zooepidemicus)

• Known to severely affect camelids clinical signs: peritonitis and pleuritis are common + sudden death treatment: parental administration of antibiotics and then support

Coccidiomycosis (valley Fever)

• Fungal infection in southwest animals getting effected by spores in valley.
• Respiratory disease causes issues in other body such as musculoskeletal. clinical signs: coughing, weight loss, lever, seizures treatment: Antifungal drug, and intervene quick

Wry Face

• Torticollis, causes misalignment of the jaw.
• Genetically linked congenital disease. clinical signs: Distortion of lower jaw, excessive lacrimation.
• Depending the severeaty of the misalignment surgical correction is often possible

Explore the unique physiological adaptations of camelids, including red blood cell shape, digestive systems, and behavior. Compare Old World and New World camelids, and understand common health issues like anemia and sclera inflammation. Learn the optimal environmental conditions for camelids.