Selenium Deficiency and Toxicity
ONE SHOULD always consider the role of the mineral selenium in their llama feeding program. Both selenium deficiency and toxicity can occur so one should be aware of the levels of this mineral in the their area before making changes to the feeding program. The signs of both deficiency and toxicity are very similar: damage to the muscles of the limbs resulting in loss of coordination, weakness or paralysis, chronic diarrhea, poor growth, damaged immune responses, and interference with the reproductive process resulting in abortions, embryonic death and weak babies that often die. If you are in a selenium deficient area it is recommended that you add 1-1/2 mg. of selenium to the feed per day as a supplement. Also you can purchase loose sale with added selenium that the llamas can eat free choice. With a serious deficiency, you may have to use the injectable form as often as every month subcutaneously. In a marginally deficient area, you may be able to manage this problem with the grain formula given in the Feeding section where the selenium levels have been doubled above the legal limit along with the TM Salt with selenium. An occasional yearly boosting with an injectable selenium may be all that is needed with this feeding program. Also it is recommended that the females be given injectable vitamin E just a month or two before their due date as vitamin E seems to have a synergistic effect with selenium. Selenium deficiency is a serious problem if left untreated and can cause the heart muscle to weaken and lead to death. It also is a problem that can be prevented or corrected with proper management. To best determine the levels of selenium in your llama herd, one can submit several blood samples from different animals to a veterinarian lab for analysis before undergoing changes in the feeding program. Always assess your needs for managing selenium by conditions in your local area as the levels of selenium in forage can vary a great deal even over a small range.
Parasites (Internal)
1. Meningeal worm-This parasite, which is a nematode, is passed from the feces of infected white-tailed deer to slugs or snails and then to the llama who inadvertently ingests the slug or snail while foraging. The parasite then migrates through the central nervous system causing inflammation and other neurological problems such as dragging of the rear legs, knuckling of the foot, uncoordination and even paralysis. If diagnosed and treated in time, the llama can be saved but may always have some gait defect. This disease is more prevalent in areas that have large concentrations of white-tailed deer and during warmer weather when the snails and slugs are active. The largest problem areas are in Eastern Canada and from the Manitoba border south through western Minnesota and east of the Mississippi River. The parasite is rarely found in the coastal regions of the Southeast United States. Diagnosis of meningeal worm is difficult since the presence of the worms can only be made from microscopic examination of the entire spinal cord and brain. If one suspects that a llama is infected with meningeal worm, treatment should begin at once. Treatment consists of unusually high doses of de-worming agents such as panacur and Ivermectin along with anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve the swelling. Treatment is usually begun after the extraction of spinal fluid that reveals cellular changes and abnormalities associated with trauma to this area. Therefore, if one suspects that this is the problem, the llama should be taken to a large animal hospital for diagnosis and treatment immediately.
If you have llamas in areas that are conducive to the development of this disease, you need to take precautions to minimize the risk to your herd. One thing that can be done is to install tall fencing around your pasture area that prevents deer from entering the areas that the llamas graze. A six foot high fence should work but for more protection, eight feet is recommended. Also, if you have a lot of shrubs, brush piles, wood piles and other vegetation in your pastures, you should remove this and keep all wooded areas thinned and cleared. Also, if you have the option, it is best to keep your llamas on high, dry soil or sandy soil that drains well. Remove all areas where standing water can accumulate in your pastures. More frequent de-worming is also recommended during the warmer months and one may have to de-worm every month with injectable ivermectin or rotate the ivermectin with panacur. One needs to consult with experts in the area to determine what de-worming program will protect your herd weighing everything against the potential consequences of using a de-wormer so frequently. Since the chances of your llamas contacting this parasite diminish greatly in cold weather, all of the llamas should be given a dose of ivermectin after the first good frost or no later than mid-late November.
2. Stomach worms, Thread-necked strongyle, Whipworm, Threadworm and Tapeworm-All of these worms have this in common: the eggs of these parasites are passed in llama feces and therefore, can be detected by routine fecal examination. While all of these worms have a slightly different genesis and life cycle and will look different upon examination, what is important to note here is that most of these can be easily treated with normal de-worming products such as "Panacur" or other products with the active ingredient, fenbendalzole, and "Ivermectin". Good parasite prevention should entail these common practices: cleaning up manure piles regularly, rotation of pasture when allowable for at least a month, avoidance of crowding and overgrazing of pasture, keeping feeding and watering equipment away from areas of manure and keeping these items clean, keeping your llamas away from wet and swampy areas, bi-yearly or more frequent de-worming of all llamas at the same time and checking fecal samples from your herd on a regular basis.
3. Coccidia-Coccidia are tiny organisms called protozoan and can pose a serious threat to the health of llamas. The disease is more prevalent in the fall and winter and is more common in young animals. The disease is spread in the feces of animals that are carriers of the disease but may show no outward signs of having this disease. The feces may contaminate the feed or water and spread through the herd and therefore it is more common when overcrowding and overgrazing occurs. Most adult animals may harbor a few of these parasites and develop an immunity to them and the llama never develops the disease. If however the llama is exposed to a large number of these parasites over a short time span and cannot handle this exposure, the llama will become sick and exhibit certain signs such as diarrhea. In severe cases the llama will show blood in the feces, become depressed, lose weight and could die. This parasite can be detected upon fecal examination although it may be advisable if this disease is suspected to re-check another sample if one sample does not show many parasites as it is easy to miss if the fecal sample is collected at the wrong time in the process. To prevent this problem or to treat a herd where this parasite is present in too large a number, one generally treats the water supply with "Corid", "Decox" or "Bovatec" for as long as indicated on the package. These products can be purchased at most livestock feed stores or you can contact businesses on this site that sell llama product. When treating the water supply for the llamas, one should eliminate other sources of water, forcing the llamas to drink from this single treated source.
4. Liver Flukes- Liver flukes are flattened trematode worms that live in the bile ducts of the host llama's liver. The adult lays its eggs there. The eggs are passed out in the feces of the llama where they develop and hatch in water. A special test to find liver flukes must be performed on the recovered feces to detect this parasite. Liver flukes are more common in wet and swampy areas where snails live such as the southeastern part of the United States and can be passed onto the llamas if other livestock have them and share pasture with the llama.
Parasites (External)
1. Flies-Flies are more of an nuisance to llamas and go with the territory. They will aggravate the llama by biting around the eyes, nose, belly and legs. Some of the larger flies such as deer flies and horse flies can bite hard enough for the llama to kick and move in obvious discomfort and in some cases may precipitate an allergic reaction. Flies can also transmit other diseases from one animal to another. On darker- colored llamas one may notice a bare strip down the nose or around the eyes where flies have been biting, which will usually clear up on its own once the source has been eliminated either through parasite control measures or cooler weather conditions. Since most flies require manure to lay their eggs, a good place to start in alleviating this problem is to frequently remove the manure piles from the areas that the llamas use. Another approach is to treat the llamas with insect repellant. There are many products, several of which contain natural pyrethrins, that can be used on llamas and they come in the form of sprays, roll-ons, powders, pour-ons and liquids. Since most of these products are not developed for use on llamas, one should be sure to consult with their vet before using any of these products, especially when using them on young llamas or lactating or pregnant females. Insect collars can also be used on llamas but one must be sure to get one with a break- away feature in case the llama gets caught on an object. These collars should contain in insecticide that is safe for llamas. One must always take precautions as directed when handling and using any insecticide.
Other means of fly control are the use of fly traps. There are several varieties of these available and some may work better in certain situations than others. Several use meat placed in them to attract flies, others use their own specially made bait. Electronic insect killers and fly strips are also good, non-toxic means of fly control. Another increasingly popular method of fly control are the parasitic insects, such as wasps, which kill the immature flies on the manure piles. It is always best to try and control this problem through the use of non-chemical means when possible and combinations of several of these methods will probably be needed for good fly control. Most of these fly control products, which are safe for llamas, can be found from vendors on this site.
2. Ticks- There are many species of ticks that can infect a llama just as there are many ticks that can infect humans and most other animals. Ticks feed on blood and therefore can cause anemia and allergic reactions/skin irritations in the host animal. They can also spread diseases such as Blue tongue. Some ticks that release toxins can cause paralysis which starts with loss of coordination in the back legs and progresses until death occurs as a result of other muscles being paralyzed as the disease progresses. Symptoms of tick infestation include weakness, loss of appetite, skin irritations or swelling and shaking of the head if the ticks are in the ears. Treatment involves the following: locating the ticks on the llama early in the process, removal of the ticks, and treatment with external insecticides or ivermectin, which should rid the llama of any ticks that are missed on examination.
3. Nasal Bots- Nasal bots are caused by flies that deposit their larvae around the nose of the llama. The larvae make their way up the nose where they can live in the nasal passageways for up to nine months. The larvae living in this area cause irritation which produces such symptoms as runny nose, sneezing, breathing difficulties, rubbing the nose and even bloody nasal discharge. Treatment if this is suspected involves using injectable Ivermectin at up to twice the normal dose.
4. Lice- Lice are small wingless insects and come in two basic varieties, biting and sucking lice. Biting lice live on the llama's skin surface and can cause skin irritation. The sucking lice actually feed on blood and therefore can cause more serious problems for the llama such as anemia, an allergic reaction or spread other diseases. Symptoms of lice include the following: restlessness, rubbing the affected areas, scratching, increased dandruff, fiber breaks, or shedding of large patches of wool. Diagnosis is made by examination of the skin and fiber for the presence of these lice or their eggs. Treatment includes Ivermectin injections for the sucking lice and topical dusting powders such as carbaryl dust for the biting lice. This powder can also be used as a preventative by applying along the neck and topline of the llama and working it in to the skin.
5. Mange- There are several kinds of mange mites and treatment depends upon which one is diagnosed after performing skin scrapings on the affected llama. Some mites prefer burrowing into the more tender skin areas such as the face, belly, chest and legs and can cause hairless spots, itching, dandruff, and scabby patches that can become quite crusty as the disease progresses and can be spread to other llamas. Other mites like to feed on the animal's skin and prefer living in the areas covered with hair and fiber. Another mite prefers to live in colonies on the skin and can usually be found on the legs and belly of the llama.
