All I can say is, “GLAD IT’S OVER!” We did meet many wonderful people, the first National Alpaca Day in September, new clients, new alpacas but also new issues about alpacas!

Now stay with me, I am going to break it down:

#1. Coccidia

A wonderful little parasite that lives in the intestines of animals that causes diarrhea and sometimes blood in the stool. Most Northern farms need not worry but our Southern friends should really get to know all about this nasty microscopic parasite.

We had 3 cases of it this fall in our cria’s. Our first case was in a 9 day old cria, (yes, 9 days) then went to our other 9 day old (both in the same nursery) then a month later affecting a month and 1/2 old. This has nothing to do with bad husbandry or anything else, just chalk it up to living in Florida. Because of the warm weather, this parasite like most others, thrives and lives in the warm weather and in the ground. Most alpacas do get immune to it and really doesnt effect them but with cria’s the immune system may not be strong enough to ward it off.

Now, not all diarrhea in cria’s is caused by coccidia. Sometimes just mother’s milk may be too rich but if your home mix or mine of Pepto-Bismol, baby rice and Pedialyte 2 times a day with at least 60 cc’s of Pedialyte a day for a couple days doesn’t clear them up you may have coccidia. I now have Sulfadimethoxine or “Albon” in my medical stock. This medication can be given orally and can be drop shipped by your vet. First day, 5 cc’s twice, then 5 cc’s once a day for 15 days. Within a day or 2 your cria should be more active and by the 3rd or 4th day your cria should have regular stool. Now, to keep the herd healthy, many farms treat once every other month or once a month by putting Albon in the drinking water for 5 days, that’s it.

Bottom line, watch your cria’s. If you do see diarrhea, find out who has it and treat. IMPORTANT: The coccidia will not kill them first, the dehydration then on to not eating and death will occur so just keep a watchful eye on your herd.

Watch for more of our 2007 coming soon!