Lamoid Restraint and Physical Exam

1. Lamoid Restraint and Physical Exam Kevin Kristick Pierrette Danieu

2. Introduction • Classification • Domestication • Distribution • Basic Description • Physiology • Uses • Vaccination Schedule • Proper handling • Restraint Techniques • Physical examination

3. Classification of Lamoids • Class: Mammalia • Order: Artiodactyla • Suborder: Tylopoda- camelids • Old World Genera and species: • Camelus dromedarius • Camelus bactrianus • New World Genera and species: (Lamoid) • Lama glama-Llama • Lama pacos- Alpaca • Lama guanicoe- Guanaco • Vicugna vicugna- Vicuna • Sub order: Ruminantia- cattle, sheep, goats, giraffe, etc.

4. Evolution and Domestication • First migrated to South America ~3 million years ago • Llamas and alpacas have been domesticated for 7,000 years; no wild incidence • Guanacos and Vicunas are wild

5. Distribution

6. Physical Description • Life span: 15-25 years • Weight: • Alpaca: 121-200lbs • Llama: 250-550 lbs • Height at withers: • Alpaca: 30-38 in • Llama: 40-47 in • Gestation period: 341 days • Birth: a single offspring called a cria

7. Physiology • Foregut fermenters • Regurgitation • Re-chewing • Re-swallowing • Stomach has three compartments = resistant to bloat • Efficient in extracting protein and energy from poor quality forages

8. Vicuna • Wild • Subspecies: • Peruvian • Argentine • Smallest Lamoid-weighs under 90 lbs and stands under 3 ft at the shoulder • Finest fiber quality of all lamoids • Uses a broad range of habitat for grazing and browsing

9. Guanaco • Wild • Many subspecies • High quality inner coat • Juvenile pelts are used for garments • Uses a broad range of habitat for grazing and browsing

10. Alpaca • Exists only as domesticated species • Breeds: • Huacaya • Suri • Excellent fiber quality • Prefers to graze succulent forage in marshes and moist places

11. Llama • Exists only as domesticated species • South American breeds: • Heavy neck fiber: • Chaku • Lanuda • Tapada • Short neck fiber: • Ccara • Pelada • Inner coat makes excellent garments • Grazes dry, harsh grass species

12. Uses: Alpacas • Premier fiber producing animal • Harvested for meat • Leather used to make ropes • Pelts of crias make fine rugs • North American Alpacas serve as show and companion animals

13. Uses: Llamas • Long history of supplying Andean people with meat, leather and fiber • Serve as sacrificial animals • North American Llamas fill numerous niches: • Breeding/showing • Companion animals • Packing • Guard Llamas • Golf caddy

14. Lamoid Vaccination Schedule • Crias: • 3 mo- CD&T, ± Rabies • 4 mo- ± Rabies • Annual Herd: • CD & T • 2 mo- Clostridium perfringens type C, D and tetanus (CD&T) • ± Rabies • ± Lepto. Repeat q 6 mo. • New Animals: • Initial series: CD&T, Lepto, Rabies • Booster all in one month • Prebirthing Boosters: • CD&T • 4-6 weeks prior to anticipated birth

15. Handling • Avoid Eye Contact • Place a Halter and Lead Rope • Use Your Surroundings • Less is Best!

16. Handling • Monitor Body Posture • Ear Position • Tail Position

17. Handling • Stand Near the Shoulder to Avoid Kicking • Do Not Work Alone • Avoid Spitting • Ears Laid Back • Gulping/Gurgling Sound

18. Restraint • Neck and Tail Hold • Similar to sheep • Approach slowly • Place one arm around base of neck • Firmly grasp tail with other hand • Difficult in larger animals

19. Restraint • “Earing” • Similar to “earing” a horse • Gain owner approval • Squeeze firmly • Caution: Natural instinctive movement is away from the grasping

20. Restraint • “Chukkering” • Places animal in recumbency by restricting the hind legs

21. Restraint • Chutes or Stocks • Commercially available • Easy to construct • “Fowler” chute

22. Restraint • Neonates • Neck and Tail Hold • Proper Lifting • Lateral Recumbency • Sternal Recumbency (kush position)

23. Physical Exam • Normals: • Temp: 99.5-102 F • Pulse: 60-90 • Resp: 10-30 • Gastric Motility: 3-5 contractions/min

24. Physical Exam • Heart and Lung Auscultation • Reach through fleece • At the elbow • Caudal to triceps

25. Physical Exam • Assessing Body Condition • Dorsal spinal muscles at T8 to L2 • Triangular = Thin • Round = Healthy • Flat = Overweight

26. Physical Exam • Assessing the Eye A: Eyelid Margins B: Third Eyelid C: Bulbar Conjunctiva D: Iris E: Pronounced Dark Pupillary Margins (corpora nigrum) F: Ocular Fundus

27. Physical Exam • Assessing the Ears • Difficult to assess • Facial paralysis seen with infections (Listeria monocytogenes)

28. Physical Exam • Assessing the Mouth • Inability to open wide prevents good exam • Check incisor teeth for under or over bite • Modified canine teeth present, called Fighting teeth (up to 3 pair)

29. Physical Exam • Blood Collection • Difficult due to protective barriers • Jugular venipuncture is best • Blind stick, can not feel or see jugular groove in most animals

30. References • Fowler, Murray E. DVM, Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids 2nd ed., Iowa Sate University Press, 1998 • www.purdyvet.com • A special thanks to Dr. Pam Walker • Another thanks to Dr. Stephen Purdy