101 Secrets: Medical Advice

How to administer meds to alpacas orally.
Author: Pamelamas llc
Pamela Drew

This next one may border on veterinary advice, but I'm going to submit it anyway as I feel it's only advice on how to get meds into an alpaca by mouth, not what kind or how much to give.
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I have had zero luck getting my alpacas to take any powdered or liquid meds mixed into their feed. I have found two simple pieces of equipment to be invaluable for getting either liquid or powder meds into alpacas by mouth. 1) A dosing syringe with extender for liquids and 2) a plastic syringe (with the needle removed) for tablets or capsules. The dosing syringe is available from most alpaca suppliers, and comes in various sizes (I have the 20 cc size). Be sure to get the extender with it. Draw the liquid up into the syringe, hold the alpaca's head in one hand and insert the extender into side of mouth with other hand, and inject liquid into mouth. A plastic syringe (with needle removed) with a bit of an adjustment can also be used for giving tablets or capsules.

Tablets can be crushed into a powder and mixed with applesauce or yogurt, and capsules can be opened and also mixed with applesauce or yogurt. Here's the adjustment - cut off the end of the syringe, so that the entire end of the syringe is open. Fill the syringe with the applesauce or yogurt mixture, and administer into the side of the alpacas mouth. It takes a bit of practice, and some animals are more cooperative than others, but it gets the needed meds into the animal, rather than leaving them at the bottom of the feed bowl.

Pamela Drew
Pamelamas llc

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