Cria Care

by Claire Ann Catt DVM and Kevin D. Catt DVM

BREATHING AND COLOR OF THE MUCOUS MEMBRANES (the mucous membranes are the gums, inner surface of lips and cheeks)

Normal:

- Breathing with ease through the nose

- No fluid in the mouth or nose

- Mucous membranes pink (some darker animals may have pigmented mucous membranes giving them a grey to black appearance - find an area without pigment to check color or look at the tongue)

Abnormal:

- Breathing is labored, open mouth, gasping, not breathing

- Fluid present in mouth or nose

- Mucous membranes gray or blue

Action:

First position cria on a slant so head is down and rump is up - this will allow gravity to aid in pulling fluid down and out of the lungs, nose, and mouth. Use a bulb syringe to remove additional fluid from nose and mouth. Stimulate cria with gentle and swift rubbing motions. (If available administer oxygen)

Call your veterinarian if the breathing and color do not improve quickly. If the cria is not breathing you can administer artificial respiration by closing the cria's mouth, put your mouth over the cria's nose and blow with enough force to inflate the cria's chest. Alternate this breathing technique with compressions to the chest to stimulate heart function. A device to help aid in administering artificial breaths is also available through OSU. (Ohio State University)

UMBILICUS. The umbilicus is a direct route for bacteria to enter into your cria, potentially causing a life threatening infection. It is also a port where blood can exit - excessive blood loss is life threatening. Proper care of the umbilicus is very important.

Normal:

- Small amount of blood present

- Action: dry umbilicus and dip in Chlorhexidine (Novalsan) or Iodine solution immediately following birth and then an additional 3 times in the next 24 hours.

Abnormal:

- Excessive amount of dripping blood

- Umbilical hernia

Action: 

If the cord is bleeding cut the umbilical cord to 1 inch long and tie umbilicus with umbilical tape, dental floss, or string to stop the bleeding. Cut the ends of the tape, floss, or string to 1 inch to prevent them from getting caught on something. Dry umbilicus and dip in Chlorhexidrine (Nolvasan) or Iodine solution immediately and then an additional 3 times in the next 24 hours. If an umbilical hernia is present a belly band will help support the tissue and allow for possible closure. Some hernias will not close, if large they may need surgical repair.

TEMPERATURE. The newborn cria does not have the ability to regulate its temperature very well. To reduce thermal stress it is very important to keep the cria in a comfortable environment. The cria's body temperature should remain between 100 degrees F and 102.5 degrees F. Use a lubricated rectal thermometer to accurately measure the temperature. If either too hot or too cold the cria's system will not function normally. Before you attempt to feed your cria make sure his/her temperature is normal - this will increase the effectiveness of the digestive tract.

HOT:

- If the environmental temperature is extremely hot be sure to provide shade. Fans to move air will also be helpful, but not directed on the cria.

- If the body temperature of the cria rises above 103 degrees F because of a hot environment, cool compressing the cria, wetting its head and applying cool water to the cria's fleeceless areas (under arms and belly) will help to lower the temperature.

- Body temperature remaining over 102.5 degrees F call your veterinarian. This could be due to heat stress or a fever.

COLD:

If the environmental temperature is too cold it may be necessary to place the mom and cria in a stall heated between 65 to 75 degrees F. Be sure to dry the cria thoroughly with towels and a hair dryer if needed. If the body temperature of the cria is below 100 degrees F use and external heat source to elevate the temperature. A cria coat will help to prevent loss of additional body heat, but it will not actively elevate the cria's temperature. An external source of heat is often necessary. Heaters, heat lamps, heating pads, pet bed warmers, and hot water bottles can be used to elevate the body temperature above 100 degrees F. if the cria is weak and not moving be sure that the the cria is not too close to the heat. Being in contact with high temperatures can cause a thermal burn. Be sure not to over heat the cria. Being too hot is not any better than being too cold. Monitor rectal temperature to accurately adjust temperature.

EXTREMELY COLD CRIA:

If the cria has been out in an extremely cold environment for an extended period of time and the body temperature is below 90 degrees F it may be necessary to submerse the cria in warm water then gradually elevate the temperature of the water until the cria is warmed to above 100 degrees F.

COLOSTRUM. Colostrum is the sticky yellow substance which should be present in the female's mammary glands for initial ingestion by the cria. If ingested timely (preferably within the first 6 to 12 hours) the cria will absorb the immunoglobulins essential in preventing the cria from developing infections. The colostrum will also start to correct the dehydration (lack of fluid) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) that each cria has at birth. After delivery of the cria massage the mother's four teats to remove the waxy plugs. Rolling the end of the teat between your fingers to lengthen and narrow the waxy plug then stripping it out is often successful. Make sure colostrum is present in the mammary gland.

Normal:

Colostrum present in the mother's mammary glands. The cria is nursing well within the first 6 hours of life. Optimal: Check IGG levels at 24 hours. If IGG is below 800 consider plasma transfusion.

Abnormal:

No colostrum present in the mammary glands.

Action:

Supplement the cria with:
- Alpaca colostrum - 2oz. to 3oz. every 2 hours for 3 feedings(6 to 9 ounces)

- Goat, Sheep, or Cow Colostrum - 2oz. to 3oz. every 2 hours for 8 feedings (16 to 24 ounces)

-Camelid plasma 2oz. to 3oz. every 2 hours for 5 feedings (10-15 ounces)

- Best absorbed if supplement is started within the first 2-3 hours of life

- Check IgG levels in 24 hours. If IgG is below 800 consider plasma transfusion

ASSESS DEVELOPMENTAL STATUS. Determining if your cria is fully developed will help you to establish what risk factors your cria may face. A premature cria is going to be at a higher risk for failure of absorption of immunoglobulins, pneumonia, systemic infections, inability to nurse, weight loss, and failure to thrive.

Normal:

Ears: tips upright

Teeth: incisors erupted

Legs: straight, walking upright on its feet

Weight: at least 12 lbs. (14-19lbs. average)

Activity: attempting to stand within 1 hour; attempting to nurse within 2 hours; successfully nursing within 6 hours

Premature

Ears: tips drooping

Teeth: incisors not erupted

Legs: laxity of tendons, pasterns dropped

Weight: under 12 lbs.

Activity: not attempting to stand within 1 hour; not attempting to nurse within 2 hours; not nursing well within 6 hours

Action: Call your veterinarian for a complete physical examination and evaluation. Because of the increased risk of developing pneumonia as well as other infections, prophylactic antibiotics are often helpful. Check to see if the mother has colostrum. If colostrum is present assist cria to stand and nurse or milk out colostrum and feed it to the cria. If no colostrum present, supplement (see above). Make sure colostrum is the first nutrition that cria receives. Long term intensive care and feeding may be necessary to give this cria a chance at survival. Constant regulation of body temperature and supplementation of milk (see below) are frequent necessities.

BOWEL MOVEMENT

Normal:

Bowel movement occurs within the first 24 hours.

Abnormal:

No bowel movement after 24 hours.

Action:

- Check rectum to make sure it is open. (if not contact your veterinarian)

- Gently apply a mineral oil enema (30 to 60 ml) to soften stool and allow for easier passage of intestinal content. Apply a warm compress to belly with gentle massage to encourage intestinal motility

URINATION

Normal:

Urinating within the first 24 hours

Abnormal:

No urination within the first 24 hours

Action:

Check to make sure the female's vulvar lips are opened if not contact your veterinarian as surgery will be required to correct. Check to make sure the cria is nursing and the mother is producing milk. If the cria is not consuming sufficient milk then urination will be absent or minimal. Stimulation of mother to produce milk and supplementation of cria to support life will be necessary.

INGESTION OF MILK AND WEIGHT GAIN. Nutrition is so important to these little guys! They need to get hydrated and to ingest a source of energy. They will not make it if they do not get adequate nutrition!

Normal:

After 6 hours the cria is able to find the teat, latch on, and suckle. It should be nursing every 2 to 3 hours for approximately 4 to 8 minutes each session. Evidence of a milk moustache is encouraging. Weight gain of 0.25 to 0.5 lbs per day is optimal.

Abnormal:

If for any reason the cria is not getting any milk - supplementation is necessary to sustain life. Some of the most common reasons for supplementations include:

- If the cria is premature and/or weak he/she will often not have the strength to stand and nurse.

_ When a difficult delivery depriving the cria of oxygen creates a "dummy cria".

- If a lack of milk production by mother is present. (Use domperidone 5CC every 12 to 24 hours and Pollard's herbal mix to stimulate lactation)

- In some cases the cria maybe standing and nursing, some milk production by mother is evident, but the cria is losing weight - it is not getting enough nutrition.

Action:

The cria needs to consume approximately 10% of its body weight to maintain weight and 15% of its body weight every 24 hours to gain weight.

The total amount of milk you calculate to feed your cria should be divided into equal feedings and given every 1 to 4 hours depending upon what your cria will consume at each feeding. If your cria will only take one ounce at a time then feed every hour until the daily intake is consumed. If your cria will take 4 or more ounces then feeding every 4 hours will be sufficient to reach the intake requirements.

MAINTENANCE                       GAIN                                   

12 lb. cria        19.2oz.            28.8oz. milk in 24 hours

14 lb. cria        22.4oz.            33.6oz. milk in 24 hours

16 lb. cria        25.6oz.            38.4oz. milk in 24 hours

18 lb. cria        28.8oz.             43.2oz. milk in 24 hours

Best milk is alpaca. If this is not available, whole cow milk or goat milk can be substituted.

Best if the cria suckles from a bottle. The sucking action creates a muscular grove that carries the milk through the digestive tract into the proper stomach for best digestion. If the cria will not take any milk from a bottle or syringe then a stomach tube can be passed. The stomach tube will not deposit the milk in the best stomach for digestion (remember they have 3 stomachs). The tube will carry the milk into the first stomach. Occasionally the milk will sit in this stomach and curdle. This can cause distention of the stomach and increase the risk of infections in the stomach.

As you are supplementing remember that your goal is only to keep your little one going until mom can take over. Prevent imprinting. Only handle the cria when medically necessary. As you are supplementing feeding encourage the cria to nurse from mom. Get him/her up and under the udder over and over again. If the cria is not nursing then milk the mother out to encourage her milk production and feed this milk to the cria before using a milk replacer.

VETERINARY CARE

Crias are at times fragile creatures. The veterinarian has many resources to help you. Blood work, X-rays, ultrasound, administering fluids, administering plasma, oxygen therapy, and administering antibiotics are just a few of the many ways the veterinarian can assist you.

Time to call the veterinarian:

- Premature cria

- Cria having difficulty breathing

- Cria non responsive to stimulus

- Cria unable to stand after 2 hours

- Cria unable to nurse after 6 hours

- Cria straining (non responsive to mineral oil enema)

- Cria not active or standing for long periods of time with its head down

- Cria laying on its side and not active

- Fever over 102.5 degrees F.

Remember.....

If you have any questions call you veterinarian. There is no such thing as a stupid question. For those who do not have a veterinarian with experience with alpacas or llamas you might try contacting Auburn University's Large Animal Veterinary Clinic at (334)844-4490 with your questions.

Thanks to Claire Ann Catt DVM and Kevin D. Catt DVM of House Calls Veterinary Service for allowing us to display this article on our website. The Catts are alpaca breeders and operate Three Sons (Plus One) Alpacas in Pennsylvania. You can view their site on www.alpacanation.com