Latest pages

Llamas as Guards

Llama Birth

Member of the Llama Association

 If you are looking for a new best friend please click on the pet rescue banner to see if you can find your perfect match.

Shearing & Hypothermia

During Spring alpacas should be shorn in preparation for the hot summer months ahead. Unfortunately in my area there always seems to be wet & windy weather and a decrease in temperature in the week or weeks following shearing. I always end up shedding my small herd and coating crias for a few nights to prevent them feeling the cold or getting hypothermia. My animals always have access to shelter and mostly go in willingly but when conditions are really bad I lock them so they have no choice but to stay undercover.  Some breeders say their alpacas will choose to not use a shelter no matter what the weather. I find placing a little feed inside the shelter at a regular time each day makes the shelter more welcoming and the animals soon learn it is a nice dry place to get out of bad weather. If you don’t have a shelter windbreaks can be made using 70% shade cloth attached to the corners of fence lines or bales of straw bales secured by metal posts. New style attachments that leave 8-10mm of fleece are available to connect to your shears, this provides more protection against the elements and maybe worth considering, especially if your animals do not have access to covered shelters.

My advice is to carefully monitor recently shorn animals for signs of shivering, lethargy and coldness to touch. A combination of wet and windy weather is especially dangerous. Crias, weanlings, the thin, sick and elderly are particularly susceptible to the effects of the weather. Regularly check for sheep grazier alerts in your area. Several internet weather sites notify current alerts as do regional radio stations. I use www.weatherchannel.com.au . I shelter all our shorn animals (we have pet sheep too) if there is an alert for our region, or if anyone is shivering.  For extra protection in really nasty weather I use cria coats for the babies, large dog coats for the weanlings and old human polar fleece jackets for the adults. (Front legs go through the arms and it zips or buttons along the back), mini pony rugs can also be used.  Providing good quality feed is beneficial during cold periods as heat is a by product of digestion. Make sure plenty of water is available in the shelter to avoid dehydration. 

Symptoms

Symptoms that indicate hypothermia is progressing include shallow breathing, lethargy, reluctance to stand, limpness, cold to the touch and coma. If your animals are showing signs of cold stress (shivering) or hypothermia immediately move them under cover and take their temperature. If the temperature is lower than 36°C then the animal needs to remain in the shelter with some quality feed and should be monitored carefully. If it is below 35°C they are already chilled and may need a blanket to help them warm up, if it is below 33°C then the animal is in a critical state, call the vet for immediate assistance

Treatment

Affected animals must be moved to shelter. If they are shivering and only slightly chilled this, with ample feed and water may be all the treatment necessary. If they are starting to show signs of clinical hypothermia you need to gradually increase their body temperature. For crias the easiest way is to place them in a plastic garbage bag (with their head out) and submerge in water around 42°C. Heating pads, hot water bottles, sleeping bags, blankets etc can also be helpful and are ideal for treating adults. If it is an advanced case of hypothermia call your vet as fluids and IV treatment may be necessary. Monitor animals for a few days after a hypothermic episode as full recovery can take a while.

I remember with much sadness that a number of shorn alpacas died in Victoria when after a prolonged heat wave there was a sudden cold snap with wind and rain. This happened in February so hypothermia is something to be mindful of all year not just in the cold winter months.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only; consult your vet for professional treatment of your animals.

.