ALPACA STOMACH ULCERS

Alpaca stomach ulcers are not uncommon. Ulcers can very easily lead to an alpaca death, so it is important to prevent this alpaca disease. Unfortunately, alpacas are stoic and it is hard to know that your alpaca is developing an ulcer until they are well advanced.

Death occurs because the ulcer has pentrated the stomach wall and stomach contents spill into the abdominal cavity causing peritonitis (infection). The alpacas condition rapidly deteriorates when this happens and the alpaca dies.

Since we do not want to loose an alpaca, preventing ulcers is important. How do we do that? Let's begin with what causes alpaca stomach ulcers.

An overproduction of gastric acid upsets the delicate PH balance in the third compartment of an alpacas digestive system. The terminal end of the third compartment is where acid is produced. Just like humans, excess acid is produced when an alpaca is stressed. Stress appears to be the greatest cause of ulcers in alpacas.

Inappropriate diet can, also, cause alpaca stomach ulcers. A diet high in grains is hard for alpacas to digest. Corn and wheat are the hardest and oats are the easiest to digest. So think a lot about what you are giving your alpacas for treats.

How do you know if your alpaca has an ulcer? Well, ulcers are mostly diagnosed by the process of eliminating everything else. Think possible ulcer if you see these symptoms:

• Cushing a lot

• Cushing in an abnormal position

• Grinding teeth (indication of pain)

• Not eating

• Excess salivation

• Lack of stools

• Black stools (bleeding)

• Restless - laying down and getting up frequently

In young alpacas you may observe these symptoms:

• Kicking at abdomen

• Rolling

• Thrashing

When calling your vet about a sick alpaca, don't forget to include recent activities. It is important for the vet to know if your alpaca was stressed. Have they been transported recently, gone to a show, weaned, or hospitalized?

Once your alpaca develops an ulcer, it is important to treat it quickly to prevent perforation of the stomach wall.

Doctor Geoffrey Smith, Professor of Ruminant Medicine at North Carolina State University, did a study on Llamas and concluded that Omeprazole given intraveneously works very well on camelids.

Oral omeprazole was not very effective. It appears that bacteria in the first compartment degrade the oral medicine making it less effective by the time it reaches the third compartment where the ulcer probably exists.

IV fluids and a prophylactic antibiotic are needed, too.

Ideally, you want to keep your alpaca from developing ulcers in the first place. Start by reducing stress:

• Always use the buddy system. Keep two alpacas together at all times. They are herd animals and will be less stressed when kept with herd mates. A lot of ulcers are formed when animals are hospitalized by themselves.

• Avoid overcrowding your herd

• Delay weaning a cria if it has any health problems

Other things to avoid to prevent formation of ulcers:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as bute or banamine and gluccocorticoids - cortisone can cause ulcers so use with caution.

• Give very little grains. Alpacas should be eating mostly high quality hay.

Alpaca stomach ulcers have a high mortality. Prevent ulcer development by reducing stress and feeding an appropriate diet. A happy alpaca is a healthy alpaca.

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