Hi Jim and welcome to the group! Sorry your introduction is under
these conditions! But that's what we're here for, isn't it?
It's so hard to know what to recommend. The suggestions already
offered are good ones. Sometimes, an alpaca will have some colic or
upset stomach, they'll be off their feed, and sometimes it is very
serious, other times, it was not a big deal at all. And it's very
hard to tell the difference with these guys?
I had a girl last month who lost weight suddenly, went off her feed
suddenly, and couldn't lower her head to graze. I panicked and
thought Tetanus! Well, she had just wrenched her neck trying to get
at the good grass through a panel gate. She was probably was startled
and couldn't get her head out, and pulled... But I was sure she was
circling the drain. Just one visit from our chiropractor fixed her
right up. Her temp was higher than normal, so we gave her a round of
Naxcel just to be sure. She's right as rain, now!
Also last month or so, we had one the boys down. Also seemed to be
dying. He was covered in mud, unresponsive, off his feed suddenly.
Turned out to be *probably* colic, but that can be deadly. He spent
the night at OSU on fluids and whatever else they do, and he's fine.
Back with the bossy boys now.
Please keep us posted!
Heather
On Apr 15, 2009, at 3:41 PM, Jim wrote:
>
>
> Yesterday when I got home around 4pm my new alpaca 4yo (got him
> about 1 month ago) was acting weird laying by himself in the
> pasture away from the girls. Normally he gets up and runs when I
> come near him. He didn't move and when he tried to get up he just
> could not stand. He was wormed last week and is up to date on all
> of his shots.
>
> So I called the vet and so far this is what has happened
>
> The vet felt he had all the symptoms of Mt. Laurel poisoning.
> Symptoms:
> lithargic
> beans for stools but covered in slime
> not able to stand
> body temp 96
> slow heart rate and slight arrythmmia(sp?)
>
> Treatment:
> activated Charcoal and the new clay stuff that act as absorbing
> compound
> Several huge doses of MOM
> we have give alot of subQ fluids
> he has had 2 Vitamin B12 shots,
> 1 cortisone shot
> 1 3day antibiotic shot
> 3 shots of atropine
>
> Now:
> He is more alert.
> has eaten a few bites of alpaca feed
> still can seem to stand but is shifting his body more and more.
> Temp is 97.1
> the vet called and said his glucose is 650
>
> HELP is there anything else I should be doing I really love his guy.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
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