When is the Gestating Cria at Risk?
Assessment of fetal well-being is an area of on-going research at The Ohio State University. We have been concerned by the limited ability to determine if a gestating cria is OK. Any veterinarian who has tried to determine fetal viability by rectal palpation or determine the fetal heart rate using an ultrasound machine can tell you that it is not always easy. The principle means for determining if a gestating fetus is OK is to observe the dam. If the dam is behaving normally, eating normally, and no changes in routine have been observed, then most likely the cria is fine. If more objective knowledge is needed because the cria is overdue, the female is being sold, or for other reasons, rectal palpation, vaginal examination, transabdominal ultrasonography, per rectum ultrasonography, and fetal ECG recording may be attempted. Rectal palpation is often difficult in Alpacas because of their small size, even when the hand can be fit into the rectum. If fetal movement is felt and the uterus h
