What sort of diseases to alpacas get?
A. Compared with other livestock, alpacas are relatively disease free. Because of their dry fleece and naturally clean breech, fly strike is not an issue with alpacas. Vaccination programs vary by geography on veterinarian’s advice. When buying alpacas for breeding purposes it is advisable to arrange a veterinary check to ensure you are buying a healthy animal. Some gardens contain a number of plants that are toxic to most livestock (oleander, rhododendron, laburmum, etc.). Care should be taken when fencing off gardens that such plants do not overhang into alpaca areas. There is a history of calamities with other livestock that have inadvertently been fed prunings form such plants. Local nurseries can provide good advice on poisonous plants or check with your county extension agent. Although some people think alpacas don’t drink huge amounts, they do need to have ready access to good quality, fresh drinking water.
