Lama Wellness Service, Inc.

Animals cut back on their water intake when the water is unpleasantly cold. Dehydration is followed by reduced appetite. The end result is animals with urinary bladder infections, constipation, and in extreme cases, complications leading to abortion or even death. Often the supplements are blamed, but the lack of water and feed intake precipitate the problems.

WINTER TIPS: When the temperature is below 25 degrees F for more than 48 hours, the forage and supplement should be 25% more. Maintain the water temperature at 45-48 degrees F for at least 12 hours a day. Add apple or cherry flavored electrolytes. This can be done all year.

The 2009 edition of my alpaca field manual is now available. This publication has 4 contributing authors with over 80 years of alpaca experience. Please contact Able Publishing at 785-537-2495 or your favorite alpaca supply business to order your copy. The 330 pages will make interesting reading on these long cold winter nights. You can plan your breeding strategies based on male and female genetic traits shown from biopsy data. The index will let you easily thumb to the pages on holistic or complementary therapy, biosecurity, or even the familar parasite section.











Norm Evans, DVM.