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Puzzeled About a Symptom
Today we visited a new alpaca owner of a 3-year-old (in tact) male who seemed to be doing fine until the owner found him this morning lying on his side with labored breathing. The alpaca was given some baking soda in case it was a stomach issue. We arrived about an hour and a half after the animal was found like that. When we arrived the alpaca was sitting up with the help of two hay bales. Thinking it may be choke we began to massage his throat and after a few moments he got up. His legs were shaky and he was uneasy on his feet. At this point, our first thoughts turned to hypothermia. We took his temperature, but it did not register on our rectal thermometer. We took the alpaca from his run-in to a sheltered area of their barn and put some corn syrup on his gums to give him some energy. In the barn, he was able to sit up on his own and he was alert. He laid under a blanket and eventually was able to get up and stand on his own. After lunch he appeared to be doing better. He could get up on his own and walk around although he was still a little shaky. However, when he would go to cush again, he would go down on the front two legs as normal, but then he would go way far up on his neck and SLOWLY lower his back end to the ground (picture uploaded). Occasionally, he would flop to the side, but he would eventually return to the upright cush position. Although he seems much more alert than when we first met him, he was not interested in hay and minimally interested in grass, feed, or water (with electrolytes). Also, both eyes were watering. Does anyone know what these symptoms could mean? We did call a vet and he was unable to come to the farm during the day. We are not sure if he can make it tonight, but at the time of this writing, he had not yet called back. Thank you in advance for any advice you can give. We will post updates as they are available.
Tags: abdomen, alpaca, cush, eating, eyes, health, hypothermia, not, shaky, symptom
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rick Horn - All American Alpacas on -
I don't mean to be blunt, but he's dying. It ain't over until the fat lady sings, but he needs help ASAP.
First and foremost, his body temp needs to be returned to normal.
Next, the problem needs to be diagnosed.
I would not rule out M-worm, but it would not be first on my list.
Corn syrup on the gums may help a newborn (15 lbs) but isn't going to have much effect on an adult. I have never considered using baking soda, and have never seen it mentioned in any manuals I have.
Until his body temperature is returned to normal, anything that is put into his stomach may very well kill him.
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Permalink Reply by Maryann Marsh on -
Kero syrup jolts the system or we use nutra-drench. 6-8 cc's. Get a heating pad under him or bring him into the house and check the temp every 15 minutes. Massage the whole body to get the blood flow back and warming up I am not sure if you mean their therm. doesnt work or his temp is so low its not reading.
If therm. is fine then Rick is right.
I would also give 1 cc per 20 pounds of bio-mycin well.
If he makes it through the night, probios in the morning and evening, force 100 + cc's of electolytes down him or at least soak his hay so he gets hydrated.
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Permalink Reply by Maryann Marsh on
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Opps, just saw he was a 3 year old LOL guess going into the house is out of the question! I would be getting heat lamps, blow dryer, blankets, and a heating pad on him for sure! He looked pretty small in the picture. They lose a lot of the heat in the belly so getting that belly covered is a must as well!
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Permalink Reply by Rick Horn - All American Alpacas on
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3 years old or not, into the house is an option if that's what's needed to get his temp up.
Elevated temperatures no longer concern me as much as sub-normal.
97º sends me to panic mode
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Permalink Reply by Maryann Marsh on
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So true, so true.
I had typed in before that we had 2 grown males that sat out in the rain 2 weeks ago and a day later our record low temps came in and both had elevated temps. and lethargic. Both got bio-mycin and one got a coat because he was shivering. No more than a couple hours later, they were up and about and fine ever since.
I think its easier to get the temps down than up, when they go down i also go into panic mode! Just a BIG SIGN the body is shutting down.
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Permalink Reply by Maryann Marsh on
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Rick,
heard of backing soda added to water that is supposed to help, not sure, never done it myself.
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Permalink Reply by John Gennarino and Tacha Trimm on -
UPDATE: GOOD NEWS!!!
Thank you so much Rick and MaryAnn! I knew I could count on AlpacaSocial to help steer us in the right direction!
I heard from the owners this afternoon that the alpaca is doing so much better! Last night, the family got a thermometer reading of 97, then this morning it was up to 100. The alpaca is looking and acting much more normal. He got some liquids in him last night and they found him eating hay through the night. Also, the level in the water bucket went down between observations. Today he is active, chewing away, and looking good!
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Permalink Reply by Maryann Marsh on
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So good to hear!!!!!! I was so worried!!!!! Woohooooo thank you so much for the update!!!
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