A Man’s Best Friend…Alpacas!
While I was seeing practice over Easter, one of the cases I had responsibility for was an alpaca with a broken leg (contained within an external fixator!). I have (well had) zero experience with camelids, to the point where I really didn’t know what to expect going to see him for the first time. Of course, ’twas a joyous experience! For those of you like me, alpacas are (we decided) a cross between sheep, guinea pigs and giraffes. The sheep gives it the coat, the giraffe the long neck, and the guinea pig it’s amazing repertoire of noises!
I could regale you with an assortment of alpaca facts now, and despite the boredom it will probably induce in you, I’m going to:
- They have not one, not two, and not even four stomachs (stomach compartments if we’re being picky) - the alpaca has three
- The glandular part of the stomach, which only makes up about 20% of the third compartment, is very prone to ulceration, secondary to non-steroidal drugs, or stress. So, while hospitalised, they are put on Omeprazole (a proton pump blocker) to reduce stomach acidity, and are always kept with a friend to reduce stress
- They have mainly cartilage instead of a nasal bone, so halters must be very well fitted to avoid suffocating them (they are obligate nasal breathers)
- To control an alpaca, you must control its head!
- They are very prone to vomiting under anaesthesia
OK, that’s probably enough for now! As you may have guessed, I was charmed and intrigued by my new alpaca friends - perhaps a career as an alpaca vet beckons? Well I doubt it, as I don’t think I’d end up with that much work to do!
Just as a bonus, here’s a pic of my alpaca mates
With the 10s of thousands of Vets in this country you couldn’t do better if you choose Alpacas as your niche specialty. By the end of this birthing season there will be nearly 150,000 Alpacas. Owners, for the most part, will pay dearing for the health and welfare of their animals. The value of a breeding female averages ~$20,000 and male studs (Herdsires) have sold for as high as $1.5 million. There are some farms that have in-house vets who have some pretty impressive credentials, Alpacas of Americas’ vet comes to mind. Check it out, the possiblities for very successful practice in the Alpaca world are waiting for you.
That’s a lot of alpacas! I’m actually in the UK, so I don’t know what the population is like over here, do you have any idea?
If you’re looking for alpacas in the UK, try http://www.alpacasearch.com/index1.htm, or just google about to find more. After agisting our herd for 3 yrs, we found a lovely farm in Oregon, and one of the fist farms we visited in this state was a family from England who has also raised alpacas there. As you’ve discovered, they’re amazing animals! You will be in good stead if you at least add them to your repertoire.
Adorable!! Interesting info too
i always joke to my boyfriend that if i can’t practice equine med that i’m going to be a llama & alpaca doctor. glad you had fun seeing practice!