Steve Purdy DVM logy

Camelid NeonatologyCamelid Neonatology

Stephen R. Purdy, DVMStephen R. Purdy, DVMDirector of Camelid StudiesDirector of Camelid Studies

University of Massachusetts AmherstUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst

Most llamas and alpacas are

excellent mothers.

Crias most often stay close to their mothers except

when playing with other crias.

Alpaca mother standing over her sleeping

cria.

Normal Nursing Position

Alternate Nursing Position

Normal Sleeping Position

Alpaca cria nursing a

llama when its mother’s

milk has stopped due

to severe illness.

Neonatal ExaminationsNeonatal Examinations

• Neonatal exams should performed on the Neonatal exams should performed on the day of birth or the next day according to day of birth or the next day according to the wishes of the animal owner.the wishes of the animal owner.

• CriaCria is the common name for the baby is the common name for the baby camelid.camelid.

• A A Patent Ductus ArteriosisPatent Ductus Arteriosis murmurmurmur heard on the left side of the thorax is heard on the left side of the thorax is somewhat common in crias and usually somewhat common in crias and usually disappears within 2 to 3 months.disappears within 2 to 3 months.

• Ventricular Septal DefectsVentricular Septal Defects

– relatively common in camelids and may relatively common in camelids and may not be symptomaticnot be symptomatic

– result in loud heart murmurs on both the result in loud heart murmurs on both the left and right sides of the thorax.left and right sides of the thorax.

• In a healthy cria, you can expect clear In a healthy cria, you can expect clear sounds in the lungs and trachea.sounds in the lungs and trachea.

• The abdomen should have quiet gut The abdomen should have quiet gut sounds present.sounds present.

• When examining the cria, it is important When examining the cria, it is important to check for enlargement of the to check for enlargement of the jointsjoints..

• Some deformity or Some deformity or laxitylaxity is normal in is normal in cria limbs.cria limbs.

• Dropped pasterns and valgus Dropped pasterns and valgus deviations of the carpus are common in deviations of the carpus are common in newborns.newborns.

– Most minor defects self correct over Most minor defects self correct over the first one to two weeks of life.the first one to two weeks of life.

Carpal Laxity in a Full

Term Newborn Alpaca

Base wide Stance and

Laxity in the Hocks in a Full

Term Newborn

Carpal Laxity in a Full TermNewborn

Signs of PrematurityTipped over ears Persistent rubbery

covering on toenail

Joint laxity

Fowler

Dental Eruption in Newborn CriasPremature Normal

Fowler

• It is important to check for It is important to check for body wall body wall defectsdefects when examining the umbilicus. when examining the umbilicus.

– One to two finger defects should close One to two finger defects should close by four weeks of age or can be by four weeks of age or can be tapedtaped upup (no surgery required)(no surgery required) for two for two weeks to correct.weeks to correct.

– The umbilicus should be dry and not The umbilicus should be dry and not edematous.edematous.

– It should be dipped with chlorhexidine It should be dipped with chlorhexidine at birth and repeated the next day.at birth and repeated the next day.

• Rule out Rule out cleft palatecleft palate when performing the when performing the oral exam on a cria.oral exam on a cria.

• It is important to check the cria’s It is important to check the cria’s suck suck reflexreflex..

• If the pregnancy was full term, the cria’s If the pregnancy was full term, the cria’s central incisorscentral incisors should be erupted. should be erupted.

Cleft Palate - 3 Day Old Cria

a = opening in palate exposing nasal bones

Fowler

a = palate missing revealing nasal bones

• Cria Cria testiclestesticles are palpable in the are palpable in the scrotum at birth.scrotum at birth.

• The cria’s blood should be checked at The cria’s blood should be checked at 24+ hours of age (maximum colostral 24+ hours of age (maximum colostral absorption completed) for adequate absorption completed) for adequate IgGIgG levels.levels.

• The normal camelid cria will have only The normal camelid cria will have only four teatsfour teats..

• 1 ml per 40 pounds body weight of 1 ml per 40 pounds body weight of Vitamin E and selenium subq (Vitamin E and selenium subq (BoSeBoSe) and ) and 1 ml per 40 pounds body weight of 1 ml per 40 pounds body weight of Vitamin ADEVitamin ADE (1000 IU Vitamin D3 per (1000 IU Vitamin D3 per pound) subq may be given.pound) subq may be given.

• ImpactionsImpactions in crias are relatively common in crias are relatively common and may be prevented by administering and may be prevented by administering an an enemaenema in the first 24 hours using 30 in the first 24 hours using 30 ml of warm water and 5 ml of DSS.ml of warm water and 5 ml of DSS.

Llama Cria and Friend

• The The vulvavulva should be checked for should be checked for significant tears and these should be significant tears and these should be corrected as needed.corrected as needed.

• It is important to clear wax from the It is important to clear wax from the teatsteats and express milk from each and express milk from each gland.gland.

• Diet should be adjusted according to Diet should be adjusted according to the dam’s the dam’s body condition scorebody condition score..

Examination of the DamExamination of the Dam

• Make sure the Make sure the placentaplacenta has passed intact has passed intact – Horns rarely tear off Horns rarely tear off – Normally passes within two hours of Normally passes within two hours of

birthbirth– Note areas of normal, varying red Note areas of normal, varying red

appearance depending on placental appearance depending on placental separation from uterine liningseparation from uterine lining

Normal Placenta

Horn

Horn

Body

Birthing opening

Normal Placenta

Birthing Opening

HornHorn

Dystocia and Premature Cria

Rubbery Covering on Feet

Central Incisors Not Erupted

Normal Placenta?

Abnormal, Edematous Placenta

• Check that the mother shows Check that the mother shows normal normal behaviorbehavior towards the cria. towards the cria.

– Birthing is a normal herd activity.Birthing is a normal herd activity.

– Isolation of the expectant dam or dam Isolation of the expectant dam or dam and newborn cria is seldom warranted.and newborn cria is seldom warranted.

– PatiencePatience on the part of the owner is on the part of the owner is the key to establishment of normal the key to establishment of normal nursing behavior.nursing behavior.

– If it is the mother’s first birth or if she is If it is the mother’s first birth or if she is not accepting the cria, sedation or mild not accepting the cria, sedation or mild restraint can be safely used.restraint can be safely used.

Colostral Antibody TransferColostral Antibody Transfer• Full absorption by cria over first 24 hoursFull absorption by cria over first 24 hours• Absorption rate decreases rapidly with time Absorption rate decreases rapidly with time

over the first 12 hours.over the first 12 hours.• Failure of Passive TransferFailure of Passive Transfer is due to: is due to:

– inadequate consumption - weak or slow inadequate consumption - weak or slow baby or uncooperative mombaby or uncooperative mom

– malabsorption - delay in nursing or gut malabsorption - delay in nursing or gut abnormalityabnormality

– lack of production - malnutrition and lack of production - malnutrition and genetic inferioritygenetic inferiority

Congenital DefectsCongenital Defects

• Ventricular septal defectVentricular septal defect is relatively is relatively commoncommon

– Crias with this defect may die with Crias with this defect may die with acute heart failure or live to an old ageacute heart failure or live to an old age

• Polydactyly- extra digits- rarePolydactyly- extra digits- rare

• Fused digits- rareFused digits- rare

• Tipped over ears- uncommon- heritableTipped over ears- uncommon- heritable

• Gopher ears- chopped off at top- heritableGopher ears- chopped off at top- heritable

• Wry faceWry face may also not be able to nurse. may also not be able to nurse.

• Choanal atresiaChoanal atresia is usually fatal in the cria. is usually fatal in the cria.– The cria may not be able to stand or The cria may not be able to stand or

nurse due to the dyspnea involved.nurse due to the dyspnea involved.– CA is often accompanied by other CA is often accompanied by other

defects such as wry face and defects such as wry face and cardiovascular abnormalities.cardiovascular abnormalities.

– The inheritance of the trait is unclear but The inheritance of the trait is unclear but it is thought to be polygenetic and not it is thought to be polygenetic and not simple recessive.simple recessive.

– Best advice at present is to not repeat Best advice at present is to not repeat the breedingthe breeding

Choanal Atresia - 1 day old cria

Flared nostrils

Open mouth breathing

Fowler

• The etiology of The etiology of cataracts (lens cataracts (lens opacities) opacities) in crias is unknown but it is in crias is unknown but it is thought that they are possibly inherited. thought that they are possibly inherited. – Parents of the cria should also be Parents of the cria should also be

checked for cataracts.checked for cataracts.• Supernumerary teats-Supernumerary teats- common- is common- is

most often ignored by breeders most often ignored by breeders • CryptorchidismCryptorchidism- uncommon- uncommon

• Assume that these defects are Assume that these defects are inherited and make breeding inherited and make breeding decisions accordingly.decisions accordingly.