Deworming & First Aid

Deworming:

We use the following medications at Walnut Ridge Llama Farm, but consult your veterinarian.

  • Ivomec injectable or Dectomax injectable
  • Safeguard or Panacure, oral (paste or liquid)
  • Valbazen, oral, not to breeding llamas
  • Corid or Albon, for Coccidia
  • Quest paste for horses is excellent
  • Cydectin
  • Marquise paste for emac – not a dewormer, emac is not a parasite

Ointments:

  • Ophthalmic eye ointment for human or animal
  • Ophthalmic rinse – Natural Tears
  • KY Jelly for thermometer insertion, enema insertion, to lube Mom if there is a dystocia for easy removal of baby (olive oil can also be used)
  • Lotrimin etc, for treatment of fungus
  • Antibiotic ointment

Solutions:

  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Rubbing alcohol for sterilization
  • 7% iodine for umbilical cord/navel on newborns
  • Betadine scrub for washing wounds and hands
  • Coppertox or blood stop for bleeding when cutting toenails
  • Kaopectate or Pepto Bismol
  • Mineral Oil
  • Activated charcoal, powder form, for treatment of poisoning
  • Enemas, baby enemas to help cria pass meconium. Adult enemas for constipated or sick animals.
  • Nolvasan antiseptic/disinfectant

Medicines:

  • LA-200 or Bio-Mycin
  • Naxcel (titricycaline)
  • Banamine, for pain and temperature
  • Ketofin, lasts 24 hours for pain and temperature
  • SMZ-TMP, for infection, neo-natal diarrhea
  • Polyflex (ampicillin for injectable suspension, veterinary)
  • Penicillin G
  • Gastro Guard paste
  • Nuflor

Equipment & Materials:

  1. Thermometer, needed for newborns, heat stress, hypothermia, shock or infection, etc. One of the first questions a vet asks is “What is the temperature?” Normal ranges — Adult: 99°-102° and Baby: 100°-102°, depending on time of year and temperature.
  2. Oxygen with human nose clip/clamp
  3. Syringes: 3cc/12cc/60cc – – for giving injections medicating orally, flushing wounds
  4. Needles: 20 gauge x 1” or 20 gauge x 1/2″ for sub-Q. Keep on hand a Biohazard container for used needles. Give to vet when full.
  5. Shoulder length OB gloves and disposable gloves
  6. Bandage scissors (blunt nose scissors)
  7. Mouth speculum: Adult: small PVC pipe (about the size of the casing on a 60cc syringe), 6” – 8” long, covered (for padding) with vet wrap. Cria: small PVC pipe (about the size of the casing on a 20cc syringe), 4” long, covered (for padding) with vet wrap. *Note: you can use the actual syringe casings with the end cut off.
  8. Suture material and needle
  9. Film container (7% Iodine for cria’s navel)
  10. Tweezers
  11. Stomach tube made from red rubber 18/20 French
  12. Vet wrap
  13. 2” adhesive tape
  14. 2” elastic bandage wrap
  15. Large coated (slick) square gauze pads
  16. Gauze wrap
  17. Shoe lace
  18. Lead and halter
  19. Duct tape and PVC pipe cut in half for splint for an injured leg
  20. 2 bottles of pedialyte, an electrolyte liquid for cria’s or adults.

(Content reproduced from Tracy Pearson of Pearson Pond)

Warning Signs of Illness

 Know your llamas behavior patterns well – – further examination by vet is in order.) Remember, it is better to overreact and be embarrassed by calling a vet unnecessarily than letting a problem develop too far. Gather as much information as possible to inform the vet of problems before you call because some situations need immediate attention, while others can wait a bit. the more information made available to the vet on the first call, the easier it will be to assess the situation and there could be things you could be doing until the vet gets there. Always try to be calm and reasonable to your llama — this is very important!

Watch for these:

  1. Noticeable differences in behavior, coordination, weight loss, reluctance to rise, lethargy or dullness.
  2. Refuses food – – with this watch water intake, dehydration could result. Confine separately in order to monitor and record amounts of food and water intake. If needed, mark the water bucket and measure the food.
  3. Raspy (noisy) and/or labored breathing could be due to heat or it could be pneumonia. Assuming pneumonia, immediate attention from your vet is required.
  4. Elevated temperature, always take the temperature rectally before calling the vet. A digital thermometer is best. Normal temperature ranges from 99 to 102 degrees, depending on the ambient or outside temperature and the time of year.
  5. Elevated temperature, always take the temperature rectally before calling the vet. A digital thermometer is best. Normal temperature ranges from 99 to 102 degrees, depending on the ambient or outside temperature and the time of year.
  6. Diarrhea – – confine separately so this can be monitored and watch the water intake so the llama does not get dehydrated.
  7. Colic – – pain in the belly. The llama will have a slightly arched-up back and will be unable to find a comfortable position and will be getting up and down slowly, groaning, grinding of teeth, kicking and looking at belly. You need the attention of a vet if any of these symptoms persist for more than an hour. If this is a dystocia, failure to deal with it can result in exhaustion of the dam or even death of dam and/or cria.
  8. Excessive discharge from eyes – – tell vet the color of the discharge. gentle flushing with clean water to cleanse area.
  9. Seizure or convulsion, call vet immediately.
  10. Bleeding, laceration, puncture, abrasion. Can be tended too until the vet arrives, if stitches are needed, keep injured area moist.
  11. Broken limb, inability to stand with any weight on that limb, call vet immediately.
  12. Swollen face, possible snake bite, immediate attention by a vet is needed. Keep llama calm, watch breathing, if nose is closing, insert small rubber tube and tape in place without obstructing the nostrils.
  13. Coughing or drooling, could indicate choking on feed – – must have attention AT ONCE. Massage at the base of the neck by collarbone and allow llama to lower head and vomit repeatedly until vet checks the animal out. No feed for 2 days, only feed hay.
  14. Inability to rise, needs attention from vet. To move a downed llama to shelter, out of the sun or bad weather, you can transport them with a large tarp or board. Get them where they can be more comfortable.
  15. Heat Stress. Watch for increased breathing and heart rate; open mouth breathing and salivation; uncoordinated; high temperature. Take temperature of llama before cooling down and wait for one hour after cool down and take it again to see if you need to keep repeating water cool down. Wetting the wool on the back and sides of the llama will not help, if they have not been sheared. Hose the underbelly and rectum area with cold water for at least 15 to 20 minutes each session. Call the vet – – this could go into nerve damage or pneumonia. Shear those llamas! When warm weather starts – – provide shelter (shade), lots of fans and lots of cold clean water to drink. Maybe a sprinkler or two to play in or very large kiddie pools.
  16. Poison, do not try to make your llama vomit and don’t give water, call the vet immediately!
  17. Hypothermia, this can be most dangerous – – uncoordinated and skin and feet feel cold to the touch. Breathing slows, provide shelter and call the vet. Start warming the llama!
  18. Swollen jaw is usually an abscess tooth. This looks like a cheek full of cud from the outside. Round, tender, puss filled raised area of skin, needs to be lanced when it is soft and flushed with saline and antibiotic daily.

(Information reproduced from Tracy Pearson of Pearson Pond)

Walnut Ridge Llamas