It is becoming more common to see llamas and alpacas as you drive through the country. More and more people are becoming owners to these delightful creatures. However, before you buy or adopt one, it is important that you are able to care for them properly. These large animals are prone to certain situations you may not expect with a small house pet. Feel free to ask our veterinarian, she is very knowledgeable of the small ruminant world.
When the vet comes to visit your llama or alpaca, you need to have the following items ready:
- A chute (the simpler, the better)
- Halter and lead rope
- Your animal is caught and ready for examination
- Good (bright) lighting, so your animal can be seen easily
Also, feel free to ask our staff if your llama or alpaca can visit us at the clinic for a check-up, we are more than happy to do a check-up in your large animal trailer. Just be sure to avoid super hot days for trailer travel!
If your animal is sick or getting a checkup:
- Inform the vet how long the current problem has been going on.
- Tell what you have done to treat the problem, if anything.
- Tell the vet any previous problems you have had on your farm and/or with this individual.
- Have the animal’s vaccination and worming history on hand.
- Inform the vet of any other things that might be relevant, such as a new feed shipment, new animals on the farm, the animal’s breeding dates, etc
