By Densie Schlingman DVM
Let’s start this article with three facts that need to be understood from the beginning.
- There are no drugs approved for use in alpacas in Canada at this time.
- Drugs that are used in alpacas have their dosages, frequency and safety extrapolated from other species.
- All drugs, dosages, safety and use discussed in this article have come from my past experiences or from other veterinarians. This does not guarantee that there will be no adverse affects from them when used by the reader.
Last but not least, there will probably never be drugs approved for alpacas in the near or distant future due to the extreme costs required to have an animal included on a label. This problem also applies to sheep and goat drug usages. The following are drugs I have used and feel confident in recommending. Remember, if given a choice, it is best not to use drugs during pregnancy, especially during the first 60 days when the embryo is developing. This is the time when the fetus is forming and implanting into the uterus. It is common for there to be a high incidence of early embryonic loss or reabsorbtion of the fetus, and I do not want drugs to increase this risk. However, if the situation indicates a drug is needed, then it should be given to save the mother. You can always re-breed at a later date.
Antibiotics
Penicillin
Eg. Depocillin
- Procaine Pen G (300 mg/ml): 3-5ml/100lbs/day
Eg. Duplocillin LA
- Long acting Procaine & Benzathine Pen G (150 mg/ml):
- 3-5ml/100lbs/3days
Both given IM (intramuscularly)
Oxytetracycline
Eg. Liquamycin LA –200
- Long acting oxytetracycline (200 mg/ml)
4-5ml/100lbs/ every 4 days (Long acting forms can be used but may cause pain at the injection sites.)
Eg. Oxytet
Short acting oxytetracycline (100 mg/ml)
4-5ml/100lbs/day
Given IM or SQ (subcutaneous)
This drug may be effective if given every other day based on
research at Oregon State University
Potentiated Sulfas
Eg. PotenSulf
- Trimethoprim and Sulfadoxine (240 mg/ml)
3ml/100lbs/day
Given IM or SQ
Cephalosporin
Eg. Excenel
- Ceftiofur HCl (50 mg/ml)
2ml/100lbs/day
Given IM
Others
Eg. NuFlor
- Florfenicol (300 mg/ml)
6-7ml per adult every 3 days
Given SQ
I have used this drug within the first 60 days of pregnancy with no adverse affects.
Dewormers
Ivermectin
Eg. Ivomec injectable (10 mg/ml)
- 1ml/100lbs
Given SQ
Has been given monthly during pregnancy with no adverse effects
Pour On 1ml/22lbs – not proven effective
Fenbendazole
Eg. Safe Guard, Panacur (100 mg/gm)
- 5ml/100lbs orally
Safe at 2-3 times regular dose
Albendazole
Eg. Valbazan paste (300 mg/ml)
- 4ml/100lbs orally
Not safe in early pregnancy
Used to kill liver flukes
Moxidectin
Eg. Cydectin (5 mg/ml)
- Pour On: 1ml/22lbs
- Injectable: 1ml/100lbs
Given SQ
There has been no study done on the efficacy of pour on cydectin in alpacas.
Pyrantal Pamoate
Eg. Strongid T (50 mg/ml)
- 6ml/100lbs for roundworms
- 12ml/100lbs for tapeworms
Safe oral drugs
Amprolium
Eg. Amprol Liquid (96 mg/ml)
- Given orally at 5ml/100lbs daily for 7-10 days
Used to treat coccidia
Do not over dose as it can cause signs of polio
Vaccines
Multivalent Clostridial vaccines have been known to cause abortion during mid- pregnancy. Personally, I have not seen a problem in late pregnancy. The safest clostridial vaccine, if needed during mid- pregnancy, is a 2-way vaccine called VISION CD-T by Intervet.
Sedation
Xylazine
- Eg. Rompun (100 mg/ml)
- Used to sedate animals for procedures or prior to surgery.
- No indication of it causing abortions in alpacas, but there are no guarantees with any sedatives.
Acepromazine
- Eg. Atravet (10 mg/ml)
- Safe
- Used for sedation (rarely used)
Drugs That Are Not Safe
Steroids
- Eg. Prednsone, Dexamethasone
- Any steroids injected or given orally have a very high riskcausing abortion.
- Only to be used if need out weighs the risk.
Cloprostenol Sodium
- Eg. Estrumate
- Used to short cycle females or abort pregnancy.
- NEVER EVER give to a female unless she is proven open or not pregnant by ultrasound, rectal exam or progesterone testing.
- Being receptive, or not having been exposed to males, doesn’t mean an animal is NOT pregnant.
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