Alpaca News
Rickets in Alpacas
We noticed from Google Analytics(software that monitors visitors to the Fowberry website) that there have been a few search entries on-line for "Rickets in Alpacas", whereby visitors are directed to a section on our website. This winter has been very poor for alpacas and no amount of bright sunny days and blue sky at this time of the year or any time of year can equate to the high altitude sunshine of alpacas' homeland. We have found that alpacas can be susceptible to vitamin-D deficiency rickets. In the past we had the odd case of stiffness which we dealt with, but a case in 2008, highlighted to us how vigilant we have to be. We were moving farms in October of that year and after the alpacas arrived in North Yorkshire, we noticed Maddie (4 months old and not yet eating hard food) was stiff and hunched, humming and lying down a lot. She is extremely white, but also extremely dense and with a black mother. Maddie survived, but her growth was affected and she is fairly small now as an adult, although still able to hold a pregnancy. Camelibra is the best available Camelid supplement, but nothing can substitute for regular vitamin ADE injections, as extra insurance. We give adults: three timesa winter starting in September and cria and yearlings, even if they are eating Camelibra Cria, have injections every six weeks, again starting in September. If alpaca breeders in t
he sunshine state of Queensland, Australia give regular ADE injections, then that is another indicator of alpacas' needs. Most susceptible are cria not yet eating hard food and particularly very dense alpacas of any colour, even adults. If a cria has even sub-clinical rickets, vitamin D alone may not work over the longer term. Vitamin D even in sufficient quantities cannot prevent/cure rickets should there be inadequate intake of phosphorous as well as calcium. We supplement either with Phoston (I/M injection) or occasionally with DCP (diCalcium Phosphate) crystals orally - both have been very efficacious. Obviously the best solution is prevention - by feeding Camelibra Cria to youngsters, they will access 25% more Phosphorus than in Camelibra NG1 and 2½ times the Vitamin D. This emphasises the point that Crias and weanlings that will not take hard feed are by far the most susceptible and will need ADE and phosphorus supplementation to avoid this unnecessary and painful affliction.
First photo: Madeline at exactly one year old.
Second photo: Madeline sniffing someones bottom.
With websites in mind, we are delighted that again we have achieved 4 out of 10 as a Google Pagerank for the Fowberry Alpacas website. It doesn't sound like much, but it is good rating and one of the highest rated alpaca websites in the world. It has made Jenny very happy - sad but true.
Our views are given for the general well-being of alpacas, please take your vets advice before proceeding.