Liver Fluke Forecast

I don't need to tell you we have had another wet summer.

For the alpacas this may mean a parasite problem in the shape of liver fluke . If you are on wet ground you really ought to consider it as a possibility.

Your Vet and the VLA

Talk to your vet and see what they think about your local conditions and risk factors. You could also ask your local Veterinary Laboratories Agency VLA what they are aware of in terms of fluke infections. The VLA is where your vet usually sends samples, if your vet does not do them in-house. They can therefore have a feel for trends in your area, though experience with alpacas may be patchy.

2008 a problem year

Last year we had major problems here because we did not start treating early enough and our girls were exposed to high levels of immature fluke which caused severe liver damage. The wet summer of 2008 brought the peak for acute liver fluke infection forward. We lost a breeding female in November from acute fascioliasis and have had to give extra care to the others that were exposed. We had another die in March with generalised bacterial infection and abscesses all over the place plus a funny heart lesion. Death was not directly attributable to liver fluke but the liver damage surely could not have helped.

The good news is that they can recover if the exposure to the immature stage is not excessive but it does take them a long time. Another one of our girls aborted in June most likely as a result of poor condition linking back to the problem last year. She has struggled since November with fluctuations in weight and health, with anaemia a constant factor. Thankfully she is currently in a good phase and starting to pick up.

We have therefore been trying to find lots of ways to break the life-cycle of the parasite, with improvements to land drainage, routine and regular treatment with a flukicide (just don't use the same one all the time to avoid creating a resistant strain), fencing off or restricting access to land when it has standing water etc.

More info on life cycle and treatment of liver fluke is available from the Scottish Agricultural College publication SAC Technical Note 557 (PDF 1MB). In addition, why not have a general browse of the Technical Notes section of their website which covers a wide range of topics.

NADIS

The National Animal Disease Information Service produce a Parasite Forecast available as a PDF for download by region. The whole NADIS website is worth a browse and a bookmark too.

The forecast for us in South Wales says it is another bad year for liver fluke with a wetter July than last year which has got to be saying something.

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Liver Fluke is another thing to keep looking out for and to add to the learning curve. We just need to avoid learning things the hard way where we can.

Alpaca Open Day

Sunday was our autumn Alpaca Open Day.

We now have 14 alpacas, having started with 5 pregnant females in March 2008.

While I was talking non-stop in the stable, where the girls and their cria were safely in a pen, Sue was up at the house with lots of lovely helpers, supplying our guests with hot drinks and home made cakes (even if not from our home on this occasion). They also got a chance to get their hands on some toasty warm and soft alpaca socks.

The weather was seriously wet and we appreciated every one of the 70+ visitors who came to see us and the animals. Walks in the valley had been planned but will have to wait for another time.

Learning all the time.

Just when things seem to be settling down

Fed and watered, the alpacas were about to be released into the paddock when sticky eyes and lost leg fleece were noticed.

Mike Safely of Northwest Alpacas talks in his book The Alpaca Shepherd, about looking every animal in the eye every day to check how it is doing. When you start looking, it is amazing what you see. While they do not welcome too much fussing and fiddling, they are very tolerant of intention. It is a bit like learning to speak a new language.

Nia's eye bathed with warm water - no major problem but we will monitor. Scylla's leg hair loss looked like mite inflammation so treated with eprinex in pig oil and rubbed it on Owain's ears for good measure - little pink patches starting to show.

No grass to be seen today and probably not for a few days, unless we have heavy rain. Distributed hay nets through the paddocks to keep the fibre flowing and will keep an eye on what they are up to during the day. There is usually a window somewhere in the house you can catch a glimpse of the animals, even if you do have to stand on tip-toe.

Alpacas join in snow time frolic

Well everyone seems to be talking about the snow... 

and why not, it does rather take over normal life when it suddenly arrives. Hard to believe it is only water.

Our alpacas were standing around in it while it settled on their backs and their heads. I did not think they were being very sensible but they seemed to like being out in it. While a blizzard raged, I locked them in the stable. After the blizzard came the sun, so they were released again. Now the fun started.

The instinct to play in snow seems to cross all boundaries of age and even species. The dogs had enjoyed romping in the snow earlier. Now it was the turn of the alpacas. Rolling you can understand but just lying down and stretching out your neck in it, then leaping into the air - quite amazing to see. Clearly they were having a great time. The youngsters chased each other and threw snowballs (well I am sure they would have done if they could), then the mums joined in and played with their cria (term for young alpaca). Caught some of it on video on my digital camera.  A delightful surprise when I thought I was just going down to feed them.