Colic? Blindness? Something Else? (VET UPDATE!)

[SkyWarrior]

It is not about the quality of the feed. It is about the change. So you are doing nothing wrong. Most of the time the llamas are fine with a drastic change and there are no adverse affects but once in a while you just get one that does. It can be as simple as just a hay change. When you bring in a rescue, you just don't have the ability to slowly change them over and even then you get the random one who gets polio.

If you have B-Complex there, I would give him heavy doses of it. That will hopefully get him through to Friday. Also do the Probios and Banamine.

I went to the feed store and unfortunately, they had no injectable B vitamins, so I had to get on oral solution. A vet friend of mine suggested something with E and selenium because our soil doesn't have selenium in it.

Nick got mad at me for giving him the oral E and Selenium and threw a tantrum. I guess the molasses flavor didn't sit well with him and he made a face. I put the B vitamins in the water as directed, so he should get some into him, but probably not enough.

A llama tantrum isn't a pretty thing. He insisted on bullying his way through me, which he hasn't done until now, and stumbled around, running into things until I quieted him and got him to lie down again. Night is tough on him.

At night, he prefers to stay in kush, but will move if I disturb him and run into things. Daytime, not such a big deal. I'm not sure but he could be night blind from the get-go. I think I'll have to have the vet determine that. I mentioned polio to him on a message, so I'll see what he comes up with tomorrow morning.

 

[ksalvagno]

Hopefully the vet can figure it out and he won't be permanently blind. Good luck tomorrow.

 

[SkyWarrior]

Hopefully the vet can figure it out and he won't be permanently blind. Good luck tomorrow.

Okay, now I am totally confused. Nick can see again.

Last night he was running into things, not reacting to my hand and generally banging around. Tonight, he's behaving like an ornery llama.

I would like to know what I did to help. The B-vitamins, E and Selenium? Time? What?

 

[ksalvagno]

Yes.

I'm sure some of everything helped. I think it would still be good to get some thiamine in him though.

 

[SkyWarrior]

Yes.

I'm sure some of everything helped. I think it would still be good to get some thiamine in him though.

I'm sure the vet will think I'm insane when I tell him this and he examines Nick. But I need to have both llamas vaccinated and a routine check done anyway -- assuming the vet can get up here.

BTW, Sid has been tolerating Nick very well. At first he would try to spit at him, but Sid isn't very good at spitting, so nothing would come out. Then, he'd spit a piece of food that was in his mouth -- maybe. Neither llamas are spitters, so it's really funny to watch Sid try and fail horribly.

 

[SkyWarrior]

Update:

Veterinarian came to look at the llamas. Good news: both are in really good shape in terms of health and weight.

Bad news: Nick is much older than I was told. Vet thinks about 14 years. He says the ears are a genetic fault from a breeder out in Darby. Sid is about 12, according to the vet.

More bad news: Nick is mostly blind, either due to feed, age or something else from the past. He can see some during the day, but he's not the eagle eye Sid is. One of his front knees isn't in great shape and as I noted he was down on one pastern that he thinks is a genetic default. He thinks I have a lawn ornament. Even so, I may be able to walk him around without issues.

I was retrospect about what I told my husband, but he knows me too well and said "no pet llamas. If an animal can't work, we're getting rid of him." Yeah, well we'll see about that. He's a huge softy, even if he tries to put his foot down.

Vet told me he has an old-style Bolivian llama in him, which makes him less pack-worthy. He says it's unlikely Nick has ever packed, despite what I was told.

Sid, OTOH, is old-style pack llama build and I really suspect he's trained for packing since he leads really well and knows commands.

The vet vaccinated them both for the standard llama diseases around here and trimmed hooves. He must have liked what he saw because he made a comment about having me get some free llamas from that sanctuary that just shut down.

So, here is my problem: what to do about Nicky? I've already grown fond of him (sucker -- I know! ) I won't have enough room for another animal until spring when we can start fencing in the hillside. If anyone can rehab an animal, it's me, but I know there are limitations. I might be able to get him up and going a few miles by the end of summer, but his conformation is going to limit what I can eventually do with him. Thoughts?

 

[ksalvagno]

It is too bad you can't keep him. It sounds like he needs a nice place to live out his life. The only thing I can think of is to work on finding him a home where someone understands his limitations and can let him just live out his life. The other option is to have him euthanized but I would hope that could be last resort if you really can't keep him. Since it is winter anyway, is there some way you could add another llama with what you have so you have your pack llama and just let Nicky live there too? I feel for you. It is a hard decision. I'm usually the one who just keeps them and figures things out but times are getting tougher. Good luck with your decision.

 

[SkyWarrior]

It is too bad you can't keep him. It sounds like he needs a nice place to live out his life. The only thing I can think of is to work on finding him a home where someone understands his limitations and can let him just live out his life. The other option is to have him euthanized but I would hope that could be last resort if you really can't keep him. Since it is winter anyway, is there some way you could add another llama with what you have so you have your pack llama and just let Nicky live there too? I feel for you. It is a hard decision. I'm usually the one who just keeps them and figures things out but times are getting tougher. Good luck with your decision.

I think my husband is putting down his foot just to make his thoughts known. I know damn well that if I nod and do what I normally do, we'll keep him.

The problem is right now, money is tough, and llamas, cheap as they are to feed, can take away some cash I need, but the vet visit will probably only set me back $100. I might be able to rehab Nick as a packer even though the vet thinks he's only good as a pet. Lord knows, I've outsmarted vets before getting sled dogs to live to anywhere from 13 to 18 years old. Dogs that hit 10 are just middle-aged, in my mind. If I get him to live past 20, that's 6+ years of good life left.

Still, it's disheartening because he's such a sweetie. I'm thinking now of some glucosamine and MSM supplements and probably a light exercise program once the ice is gone from the road. I'm not fond of DMSO even though it has lots of good properties because it can carry stuff into the bloodstream. Still, I suspect not a lot is known about llamas and how they react to rehab. I've trained with the greatest athletes in the world (sled dogs), so working rehab is nothing new.

What do you think? At this point, I have nothing to lose except time and some money to supplement and train.

 

[ksalvagno]

I say go for it!

 

[KellyHM]

If I were closer I'd off to adopt him. Yeah, I'm a sucker for animals with issues and all he'd have to do here is stand around with the goats and look tough.