LARGE ANIMAL VETERINARY SERVICES
LLAMA AND ALPACA HEALTH CARE BASICS
Vaccinations
Covexin 8 (Clostridium perfringens types C and D, Tetanus)-once to twice yearly depending on diet; Rabies-recommended annually in this area; vaccination against Leptospirosis may be recommended depending on your situation
Deworming
Ivomec drench or Cydectin orally-every two to three months or monthly depending on herd density and pasture situation. Fecal examinations can be performed to assess the need for more frequent deworming.
Nutrition
Grass hay (fescue, timothy, orchard grass, coastal bermuda)-free choice if no pasture is available, monitor weight;
Other
Shearing of llamas should be done in the spring of each year to prevent heat stress associated with hot, humid weather in our area; Trim feet as needed-check monthly when you deworm if terrain is rocky they may not need trimming; Fecal exams-collect a few fresh pellets from a couple of piles in each pasture and bring by to check for parasite eggs three to four times yearly to assess effectiveness of your deworming program.