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daleppard
150 Posts |
 Posted - 07/04/2012 : 4:36:49 PM
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Walked out this morning to check on a pregnant mom due any day now and found a boy out laying next to mom. Seemed active this morning and still is if you get him up. Has been nursing fine. But he is breathing really heavy. We have tried everything to keep him cool. He is in the shade with a fan. We have wet him down some and wet the ground to keep it cool beneath him. The fan is not super close since he is so young but he should be cool. We have never had a cria this late in the year before so a bit paranoid right now. Something we should look for? Or is this normal? Thanks.
Brent Barnhart
Shearwood Forest Alpacas
Mishawaka, IN. 46545
574-532-1134
www.shearwoodforest.com
shearwoodforest@hotmail.com
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Marion
4 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2012 : 5:04:31 PM
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Hello Brent,
did you check his temperature? Is he really hot or just breathing heavy, but has normal temperature? What is his breathing frequency? Do you see his cheeks move, when he is breathing?
Marion
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ncalpacas
99 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2012 : 7:56:32 PM
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Hi Brent ~
We had one born this past Friday, just as we were going into a week long stretch of upper 90's with 100+ heat index. We monitored his temp very often those first couple of days and still check, but less often, as he is getting better able to control his own temp. We do not let him out in the blazing sun, but keep him in the barn/shade in front of a fan. When his temp starts edging in toward 102 he gets wetted down along his top line with rubbing alcohol, also the front of his neck and even the pads of his feet. Then we check the temp again in about 20 minutes. If it is heading to over 103, in addition to the alcohol he gets to rest his belly across my lap on a bag of ice wrapped in a light terry towel. And, if we feel its warranted he may get a shot of banamine. Usually the ice and alcohol work pretty quickly. Bonus, I get to have ice on my lap and sit in front of a fan.
Fortunately he likes to get lightly sprayed from the hose along with the rest of the herd so now that he's a few days old, that seems to take care of his overheating fairly well.
Even being 5 days old we do not let him stay for any length of time in the pasture and will only let him out early in the morning or after the sun has gone down. Although with the heat we're having right now there's very little difference in comfort levels even at those times of the day.
Good luck to you. We have two more due any time. I really won't mind if they are a bit overdue and wait for cooler (lower 80's) days.
Kit Almich
North Country Alpacas
Le Sueur, MN
507-665-6059; ncalpacas@hotmail.com
www.alpacanation.com/northcountry.asp |
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highpeaksalpacas
1291 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2012 : 07:31:07 AM
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Your cria should not be breathing heavily...and should be checked by a vet immediately. There could be heart issues, lung issues or it could be heat related..but it's something that needs to be dealt with quickly before you lose him. Please consult your vet.
Debbie Potter
High Peaks Alpacas
Wilmington, NY
www.alpacanation.com/highpeaks.asp
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jillmcm
3175 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2012 : 08:19:46 AM
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Breathing heavily and being lethargic - with or without a temperature - are also signs of sepsis. If his eye membranes are dark red, he needs antibiotics and a transfusion.
Jill McElderry-Maxwell
Bag End Suri Alpacas of Maine - ¡BESAME!
Pittsfield, ME
(207) 660-5276 (cell)
bagendsuris@roadrunner.com
http://www.bagendsuris.com
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Mary Jane
1134 Posts |
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Cria seems really hot!!
