Elizabeth Animal Hospital | Camelid Services


Alpaca and Llama Veterinary Services
Alpaca and Llama Breeders/Owners are among the many special clients at Elizabeth Animal Hospital. Elizabeth Animal Hospital has become one of only a few animal hospitals on the Front Range that have a specialty in Alpaca Care and Llama Care and Dr. Leon Anderson is well known and respected by alpaca breeders throughout the region. Alpaca Breeders/Owners can haul in their Huacaya and Suri Alpacas for most services required. Camelid medicine and surgery services are primarily in-house services. Our facility allows for year round hospitalization and indoor treatment of your Alpacas and Llamas. Outpatient services include reproductive services, uterine torsions, travel paper preparation, routine health care, dental care, castration, lameness evaluation, radiology, and minor surgery. Alpaca and Llama patients can be hospitalized for more advanced medical treatment and some advanced surgery as well. Emergency cesarean sections, some fracture repairs, laceration repairs, dental extractions, and other surgeries can be performed on Alpacas and Llamas.

lolly the llama
Lola Paloosa, aka Lolly


The Steps in a Llama Emergency C-Section
Owners Cindy and Scott Griffith were carefully monitoring Trixie as her due date drew near. They noticed she was having difficulty and was not delivering her cria (a camelid baby). They immediately loaded her into their trailer and brought her to Elizabeth Animal Hospital, which has extensive knowledge in camelid reproduction and care and offers alpaca and llama breeders veterinary care of the highest quality. As soon as she was unloaded and taken into the stall area for larger animals, things began to happen fast.
Warned that a llama emergency C-Section would soon be arriving, the floor had already been scrubbed and sterilized. Assisted by Andi (CVT), who is knowledgable and experienced in handling camelids and assisting in surgeries, Dr. Anderson prepared Trixie for her C-Section by lightly sedating her and settling her onto the ground. Dr. Anderson inserted an IV and started administering intravenous fluids to protect Trixie against shock due to any loss of blood. He then shaved the surgery site and thoroughly scrubbed and disinfected it before draping Trixie with sterilized towels to help protect the incision against contamination from any debris on her coat. Andrea calmed and stabilized Trixie to make sure she didn't try to rise once the surgery began.
While Andrea continued to stabilize Trixie, Gary (CVT) (not shown) titrated medication into the IV line while Lessie (CVT) (not shown) kept careful watch over the IV line, adjusting it when necessary to ensure Trixie's fluid levels were at their optimum. Dr. Anderson donned scrubs and a mask and determined where best to make the incision. Once the incision had been made, the cria was quickly delivered and handed off to people waiting to take care of it while Dr. Anderson closed the incision. Throughout the operation, Trixie was closely monitored to make sure her vital signs were stable and she was not going into shock.
It's a boy! Owner Cindy immediately christened him Trooper because he came through the whole process with aplomb. While Dr. Anderson was busy closing the incision, Trisha Anderson and Lessie (CVT) worked on Trooper, rubbing him to help dry out his beautiful white coat and warm him, and also to stimulate him to help him clear any remaining fluid from his lungs and trachea. It didn't take long before he was completely alert and probably wondering what was happening to him. One moment, warm, wet, and at peace (except for those nagging squeezes now and then), the next, not so warm, no longer wet, and being vigorously massaged.
Trixie was soon back on her feet and as good as new (if still slightly woozy). However, she was definitely having a bad fiber (hair) day. Meanwhile, Trooper was on his feet and waiting for a meal. Both mother and baby have been doing great ever since.

Trooper right after being delivered by C-Section. By the way, he's not really pink.

Trooper after being delivered by C-Section. By the way, he's not really pink!


The Importance of Alpaca & Llama Dentistry
Camelids have incisors for cutting foliage during grazing, canines (fighting teeth) for defense, and premolars & molars (cheek teeth) for grinding food. All of these teeth may need treatment at one point or another. Incisors are naturally worn as the animal eats their food. Sometimes the incisors (on the bottom jaw) don’t occlude properly with the dental pad of the top jaw, and begin to grow out in front of their mouth. We are able to improve the animal's bite and appearance by shortening these teeth. In addition, deciduous (baby) incisors are often retained and require extraction.
Canines (fighting teeth) come in three pairs, two on each side of the top jaw and one on each side of the lower jaw. These teeth are rudimentary in females but formidable and sharp in males, erupting at sexual maturity. In most cases, after eruption canines are cut off near the gum to protect other camelids from harm. Often, this process is repeated in a few years as the teeth further erupt.
Cheek teeth (premolars and molars) are far back in the mouth and grind feed. The biggest issue with these teeth is abscessed roots. The cause for the abscesses is often not known, but include periodontal pockets, fractures, carries (cavities), trauma or blood-born bacteria. These abscesses often respond initially to antibiotics but recur frequently. It is best to surgically remove infected teeth before an animal begins to drop any weight secondary to the tooth issue.
The mature male alpaca in these pictures was having his cheek teeth removed because they had abscessed. He was anesthesized, had an IV inserted to supply fluids to avoid shock, and was carefully monitored by Gary Romano (CVT) and Mary, one of our interns, who assisted Dr. Anderson. The draping of towels, which cover his entire body, was not a fashion statement but instead a precaution to ensure that his body temperature was maintained during surgery, when it tends to drop.

a male alpaca is having his cheek teeth removed after they had abscessed

Male alpaca having his cheek teeth removed after they had abscessed.


Camelid Care Outpatient Services
If alpacas or llamas are in for one of the many outpatient services offered by Elizabeth Animal Hospital, they are placed in a specialized chute for handling camelids. This chute is designed with safety and comfort of the camelid in mind. Padded straps are placed underneath the camelid's belly and tightened, lifting the animal slightly and ensuring that movement is restricted (we like to ensure the safety of our doctors and techs too!). There is also a large, open area with rubber mats for handling circumstances requiring a large area.
This llama has been strapped into place. It's head has been lifted so that Dr. Anderson will be able to treat and stitch the ruptured abscess on the animal's neck. Gary (CVT) watches the animal carefully, ready to assist Dr. Anderson in any way and also to calm or further restrain the animal if necessary.

a llama in a treatment chute being attended to by Dr. Anderson

Dr. Anderson is treating a ruptured abscess on the neck of this llama while it is restrained in a treatment chute.


Camelid Surgical and In-Patient Services
When hospitalization is required, Elizabeth Animal Hospital has four stalls equipped with IV catheter supports, rubber mats, and specialized cardboard shavings.
Katia was brought in having trouble delivering her cria (baby). She was placed in the large handling area and given medical support to assist her in deliverying her cria naturally. After delivery, the cria was on its feet in a few minutes. Here is the cria with both mom and grandma (brought along for emotional support) checking him out.


The stress of the prolonged delivery left the cria weak, so it was determined that it needed fluid and plasma therapy. It was placed into one of the treatment stalls, padded with a rubber mat and specialized cardboard shavings, and hooked up to an IV. The IV is hanging from the ceiling so the cria can move around easily without becoming entangled in the tube; a ceiling placement also ensures that the cria won't pull the IV out of its neck as it might if the IV was attached to the side of the stall.
A concerned and watchful Katia keeps a close eye on her new baby. Alpacas generally are excellent mothers and Katia is no exception.

This alpaca cria needed therapy after a difficult delivery. It was placed in one of our three treatment stalls and is comfortable on the rubber mat and specialized cardboard shavings.


Tranporting Camelids Across State Lines
Camelids are often transported across state lines. Every state has different requirements for blood testing and health certificates. Elizabeth Animal Hospital provides the proper information from each state and completes the travel papers needed to transport camelids.
Most testing and health examinations can be done from the back of trailers used by alpaca breeders. Elizabeth Animal Hospital has access around the entire building so it is easy to pull a trailer around without having to back up. Here, three of the alpacas in this trailer are being checked by Dr. Allyn after the results of their TB tests were finished.

camelids, like these alpacas are often transported across state lines

Camelids, like these two alpacas in a livestock trailer, are often transported across state lines and require tests and documentation.


Why Are Ultrasounds Important In Camelid Care?
Although not always indicated, ultrasound is a non-invasive and valuable tool in alpaca medicine and reproduction.
Pre-Purchase
	Ultrasound allows a more detailed look at that girl you are considering adding to your herd. Her uterus and ovaries can be closely examined.
Maidens
	Let's make sure your maiden is ready to breed. Ultrasound will allow us to evaluate her uterus and ovaries to ensure health and ovarian cycling. If her receptiveness is in question, serial ultrasounds can help us determine ovulation times.
Pre-Breeding
	After parturition, but before breeding, we can evaluate her uterine health as well as her ovarian state. This is especially important if you are shipping her for breeding or if she suffered a dystocia.
Pregnancy Confirmation
	Once bred, pregnancy can be confirmed by ultrasound. Trans-rectal ultrasound is most reliable from 18 to 120 days. After that, trans-abdominal can be done. Behavior (spit) testing and progesterone levels are very helpful, but ultrasound is the most reliable.
Sick Alpacas
	An abdominal ultrasound is very informative on colicky or down alpacas. We can often get a look at their liver, C3 outflow, urinary bladder and check for abdominal fluid build up.

ultrasounds are useful in camelid reproduction

Ultrasounds are a useful tool in camelid reproduction.