I posted this on the Farm forum a bit ago but just realized perhaps this forum is more appropriate!
"we need some urgent help in trying to save a half frozen alpaca
baby.we have her in the kitchen on warm blankets and a couple of heating pads is
there anything else we can be doing?"
This post is from an acquaintance on another website. Any advice for her?
Freezing alpaca baby
If she is eating and has nursed from her mom, I would give her warm fluids. If she hasn't nursed, shouldn't they make sure she has colostrum? I think they have it for sale.
I really don't know much about alpaca...maybe Moxon has read more.
One way to make instant warm blankets is to throw them in the clothes dryer for 5 minutes and then keep replacing them. I agree on the warm fluids also - the nursing would be best. I have llama/alpaca books but am at the library studying for an exam this afternoon and not able to look up right now. I would do some Google searches as well. See if you can find an alpaca breeder near you who you could call (if they have a number on their website) and they will probably offer advice. There are lots of nice alpaca breeder sites out there and some do have phone numbers.
Found this advice on line if the baby makes it...(for llamas but applies to alpacas also)
In any climate it is useful to have at least one stall where a mother and newborn baby or an ailing member of the herd can be confined. A pair of heat lamps mounted on the walls will help warm a baby born in cold or damp weather and may prevent frostbitten ears. Heat lamps should be firmly anchored and mounted high enough so an adult Ilama cannot singe itself. Baby llamas must learn about their creature comforts and should be watched closely the first week or two, if born during extreme weather conditions. Even a normal, healthy baby may need protection of a coat or jacket in the first two weeks during very cold, snowy or rainy weather.
Here is a breeder with phone #, they are in Florida but may still be able to provide advice.
http://www.mountairyalpacas.com/about_us.html
Here is the contact info for "Alpaca Canada" which is some sort of Canadian alpaca breeder association - surely someone on the phone there could give help.
Contact Alpaca Canada
Suite 1178, 7620 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary AB T2V 1K2
Ph: 403.250.2171
Fax: 403.222.3285
Email: alpacacanada@nucleus.com
Here is a list of alpaca breeders in Canada including many in Alberta. Many phone numbers!
http://www.alpacaseller.com/info/cabreederlist.php#Alberta%20Central
Thanks!
Edited to add: Just have heard that the baby alpaca died this morning in spite of all nite efforts to save her. No idea what the circumstance were - the rescuer is a dog breeder on a rural property several hours north of me and it has been bitterly cold for several days now.
This message was edited Dec 15, 2008 2:10 PM
Sorry to hear they lost the baby. Unfortunately, it's part of having livestock, sometimes they just don't make it, no matter how hard you try.
I don't think it ever gets any easier...
Jay
As a dog owner and foster for a rescue I too know it never is easy. I am really curious where the baby alpaca came from as they do not have livestock so far as I know . However since I also dont really know her other than as a good breeder of the dog breed I have I dont really feel I can ask!
Thanks again for all the advice which was passed on to her.
I have a lot of experience with orphaned foals.. If you can get one to live, your very lucky.
In the past.. I've milked out dead mares to get the colostrum, if you don't get it.. your chances are much slimmer. Even putting a little bit in a coke bottle and nearly force feeding (if you don't have a baby bottle) is better than store bought. Even just an ounce.. A cold dead mare once gave me almost a whole coke bottle, so don't give up.... punch the bag like the baby would.. it still produces.. get all you can, and get it in the baby as soon as possible.
I'm sorry the baby didn't make it.. Even in perfect conditions, the odds are against saving it.. Too bad.
just thought I'd pass this info on for future reference..
That is good to know ZZ. I know that it is very hard to save mammal babies once their body temp drops too low. I've heard that wild Vicuna and Guanacos, Andean relatives of Alpaca, frequently lose cria to cold temps.
The weather, even down here in the Texas panhandle, was 10 degrees this week and stayed there a few days. My donkey was shivering. I need to buy him a coat for next time I guess. I read one website that said blankets for donkeys was a bad idea, so I'm not sure what to think.
I can't imagine what it's like up north. This was bad enough.
Today is 45 though. :) I'm going to spend some time outdoors cleaning.
I am amazed at how animals and plants live in Canada, the depth of cold it gets there. Honestly amazing. Apparently the wildlife thrives, from pictures I've seen. It's so beautiful there in the summer, but those winters.. they can keep those.
Funny you should bring that up, LFJ, because I am leaving for Canada for the holidays, to visit my parents. I am looking forward to it because my parents are a zone 6a, and here in Iowa I'm a 5a. Usually, it is warmer where they are on average, but the winter lasts a little longer. So when I moved "south" to the US, I thought the winters would be better, but oddly enough (and partly because I am so far inland), they are worse! Arghh!!!