Nutritional Diseases | Veterian Key Chronic selenosis is associated with feeds high in selenium or with long-term moderate oversupplementation. Make sure that alpacas have access to plenty of fresh water and fiber at all times to prevent stomach aches. Typically, a ringworm infection affects an alpacas legs, feet, and face. Selenium is found in nature in four oxidative states: selenide (2), elemental selenium (0), selenite (+4), and selenate (+6). (Back to top), When an alpaca walks on their pasterns rather than their feet, typically this is because they are experiencing foot pain, either from arthritis, foot rot, or mange. (Back to top), Like most animals, alpacas can become prone to arthritis as they get older. Doctors suspect selenium deficiency based on the persons circumstances and symptoms. Blood tests for this deficiency are not readily available. Other plant species are termed facultative indicators; they do not require high selenium conditions to grow, but in high-selenium soils they can accumulate selenium concentrations >50 mcg/g. Its important to ensure that the sores do not develop secondary bacterial infections. Erythema and swelling of the coronary band is associated with separation of the hoof wall, which can slough off or remain attached as new growth occurs beneath, resulting in the appearance of transverse hoof cracks. Sore mouth is a viral disease caused by a relative of the chickenpox viral family. For more information on barber pole worm, including ways to slow the development of anthelmintic resistance, check out our in depth resource, here. Camelids, sheep, and goats living in areas with white-tailed deer populations can also become infected by this parasite but are considered aberrant, or unnatural hosts. There is also a vaccine available for anthrax. Chronic selenosis can be prevented in selenium-deficient areas of the world by avoiding oversupplementation. (Back to top), Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis spores, which can lie dormant in soil across the world for many years. Discard or sterilize anything that comes into contact with the pus and monitor the wound for up to a month. Appetite/Drinking Changes: Anaplasmosis, Anemia, CL, Coccidiosis, Enterotoxemia, Internal Parasites, Leptospirosis, Listeriosis, Megaesophagus, Stomach Ache, Upper Respiratory Infection, Urinary Blockage, Blood: Anaplasmosis, Anemia, Anthrax, Barber Pole, Coccidiosis, Internal Parasites, Breathing/Mouth: Abscesses, Anaplasmosis, Barber Pole, Bottle Jaw, Listeriosis, Lungworms, Slaframine Toxicosis (Slobbers), Sore Mouth, Upper Respiratory Infection, White Muscle Disease, Droppings: Anaplasmosis, Coccidiosis, Internal Parasites, Johnes Disease, Leptospirosis, Tapeworms, Urinary Blockage, Energy/Movement: Anaplasmosis, Anemia, Anthrax, Arthritis, Barber Pole, Dropped Pasterns, CL, Coccidiosis, Enterotoxemia, Foot Rot, Internal Parasites, Leptospirosis, Listeriosis, Mastitis, Mycoplasma haemolamae, Parelaphostrongylus Tenuis (Meningeal Worm, Deer Worm, Brain Worm), Stomach Ache, Tapeworms, Upper Respiratory Infection, Urinary Blockage, White Muscle Disease, Feet: Arthritis, Dropped Pasterns, Foot Rot, Mange, Head/Neck: Abscesses, CL, Listeriosis, Ringworm, Sore Mouth, Legs/Joints: Arthritis, Dropped Pasterns, Mange, Parelaphostrongylus Tenuis (Meningeal Worm, Deer Worm, Brain Worm), Ringworm. It is treatable with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. It is possible (though very rare) for CL to spread to humans, so its important to maintain good biosecurity when handling alpacas suspected of having CL. Treatment for acute or chronic selenium toxicosis is usually unrewarding. Selenium Deficiency If an alpaca is suffering from an internal parasite, it is likely a strongyle, but there are other, more dangerous parasites such as lungworms, barber pole, and coccidia. The pathophysiology of selenium toxicosis remains a topic of debate; multiple mechanisms are likely at play. They are infected as fetuses and shed the disease after birth, spreading it to other individuals. Animals overdosed with selenium supplements often have cardiac lesions, including areas of pallor in the myocardium, along with epicardial and endocardial petechiae. In sows and weanling pigs, as an aid in the Pink eye in alpacas can be a serious disease, and comes in both infectious and noninfectious forms. A selenium deficiency can cause you to experience symptoms of muscular weakness, joint problems, and even osteoarthritis. Female Dictyocaulus lay eggs containing larvae in the lungs which are then coughed up, swallowed, and hatch into first-stage larvae before being passed in feces. Vitamin E deficiencies are typically a result of insufficient forage nutritional quality, and selenium deficiencies are typically found where the soil lacks selenium in appropriate quantities for foraging alpacas. WebSelenium deficiency is known to cause problems for many systems of the body including the cardiovascular system, the immune system. One study of llamas found that severity of symptoms was not a reliable indicator of prognosis. Affected individuals may also be seen circling, have a head tilt, or become blind. Brazil nuts (also known as paradise nuts) have been associated with selenium toxicosis in humans, and they are possible sources for captive animals, such as psittacine birds. You should introduce alpacas to the new pasture for up to a week alongside their usual hay, only allowing for a few hours at a time. Early symptoms include eye discharge as well as red and swollen eyes. Mange can also affect an alpacas feet, causing itchiness, irritation, and difficulty walking. When the heart muscle is afflicted, an alpaca might have fever, trouble breathing, and bloody, frothy nasal discharge. A healthy alpaca has a bright pink eyelid. Selenium increases the formation of reactive oxygen species, leading to oxidative injury. Treatment for acute or chronic selenium toxicosis is generally unrewarding; thus, preventionthrough monitoring of selenium status, feed quality, and dietary sources of seleniumis key. Bottle Jaw presents itself as a very swollen lower jaw in an alpaca. Selenium and aging are closely linked. While there are vaccines for cows, both live and inactivated vaccines, they are not currently recommended for camelid species due to a lack of data on safety and efficacy. Mckenzee is the Executive Director of The Open Sanctuary Project. If you suspect an alpaca is suffering from white muscle disease, contact your veterinarian for evaluation and to get the appropriate injections. However, if sufficient quality water is available, toxicity is not a concern. Selenium deficiency symptoms include infertility in men and women and improper fetal development. The most typical case of urinary calculi in alpacas comes when a male alpaca is fed too much grain or generally has a calcium phosphorus imbalance in their diet, sometimes from an alfalfa-rich diet. Alpacas that were tested deficient in blood selenium and glutathione peroxidase (an enzyme that contains Se and can be used as a marker of Se sufficiency Distribution. Lice infections are very common and very unlikely to cause long term harm to alpacas in mild infections. Salt toxicity has been recognized in a number of species. References: Barragry T., (1994) Veterinary Drug Therapy. The accumulation of defective keratin leads to circumferential cracks in the proximal hoof wall. Other symptoms of CL can include anemia, lack of appetite, weight loss, and fever. Mastitis can also be a secondary infection to sore mouth. You can test for anemia in alpacas and alpacas with, Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis spores, which can lie dormant in soil across the world for many years. In these species, the parasite can cause significant issues not typically seen in white-tailed deer. The atony results in accumulation of food and saliva in the dilatated oesophagus. Nutritional Diseases of Horses and Other Equids Miscalculation of dose or improper formulation of parenteral supplements is the most common cause of acute selenium toxicosis. Besides eliminating exposure, there is no specific treatment for selenium toxicosis. When clinical signs and lesions suggest selenium toxicosis, definitive diagnosis is based on assessments of selenium concentrations in serum, blood, tissue, feed, forage, and supplements. Treatment involves applying approved medicated ointments to sores and thoroughly cleaning anywhere where the affected alpaca had been spending time. The most well-known type of Enterotoxemia, Pulpy Kidney Disease, occurs when an alpaca gets indigestion or overeats. WebSelenium deficiency results in reduced serum selenium, increased AST activity, white muscle disease, and perhaps rhabdomyolysis in working horses. The most well-known type of Enterotoxemia, Pulpy Kidney Disease, occurs when an alpaca gets indigestion or overeats. 67 Heres what you should be looking out for: Advertisements Joint pain Fatigue Muscle pain Muscular weakness Tenderness in the body People with chronic muscular problems often test positive for selenium deficiency. In the event that you do not have access to a veterinarian, lancing an abscess is a relatively simple process: trim the hair around the abscess, disinfect the surface with an antiseptic, and make a low, small, vertical incision with a sharp and sterilized knife. Noninfectious pink eye can come from eye abrasions, vitamin A deficiency, toxins, or stings, which can be treated with ointments (or in the case of Vitamin A deficiency, Vitamin A supplementation). If the alpaca tests positive for CL, the pus in their abscesses can spread the disease to other residents. (Back to top), Foot rot refers to a bacterial infection of one or more feet of an alpaca, which can come on from chronically damp or muddy walking conditions for the alpaca as well as a zinc deficiency. Enterotoxemia is a range of diseases that can affect an alpaca. It runs its course in three to four weeks. In the event of an abscess, it should be first diagnosed by a veterinarian, and typically it should be lanced and cleaned early on (any abscess on the face or neck should be treated by a veterinarian to minimize risk of major bleeding). White muscle disease can affect heart muscle, skeletal muscle, or both. Erythrocyte life span varies in different species but is usually >100 days; thus, whole-blood selenium concentrations are more stable over time. Low concentrations of these enzymes in serum and whole blood, respectively, are diagnostic for copper deficiency. A garlic odor to the breath has been commonly described. A healthy alpaca has a bright pink eyelid. The best known clinical form of Se Because of their sensitivity to this infection, prompt treatment of llamas with suspectedP. tenuisis imperative. Chronic selenosis is associated with hair and hoof abnormalities. It is caused when an alpaca ingests contaminated food or water, especially from stagnant water. This is not an exhaustive list of everything that can happen to an alpaca, but can help you get a sense of what challenges a resident under your care may face in their lifetime. Camelids appear to be more sensitive to the infection than sheep and goats, with llamas being the most sensitive unnatural host. Selenium Deficiency: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment (Also see Nutritional Myopathies in Horses .) Most adult alpacas are infected and immune, but much younger alpacas are at risk of fatal infestations. Sore mouth symptoms include blisters in less hairy parts of the alpacas body, on their lips and mouth, with the blisters eventually becoming scabs. Llamas and alpacas can become infected with. It is treatable with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. There are a number of medications available for mange depending on the type and location of the infection. Other symptoms of CL can include anemia, lack of appetite, weight loss, and fever. There is also a vaccination available to prevent it. Selenium deficiency: 6 symptoms, simple treatment and Noninfectious pink eye can come from eye abrasions, vitamin A deficiency, toxins, or stings, which can be treated with ointments (or in the case of Vitamin A deficiency, Vitamin A supplementation). An anemic alpaca might also be more lethargic, have a dull or shabby coat, lose weight, or stop eating as frequently. An extremely anemic alpaca may require a blood transfusion. WebAlthough selenium deficiency plays a major factor in development of muscle atrophy, not all selenium-deficient animals exhibit clinical signs. Some household items contain relatively high selenium concentrations, including dietary supplements, dandruff shampoo, consumer electronics, and photocopier toners. Histologic lesions of the skin include degeneration of keratinocytes and atrophy of hair follicles. (Back to top), Listeriosis is the result of an infection caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. (Back to top), Stomach aches in alpacas can result from many different causes, some of which are far more dangerous than others. Selenium toxicosis usually results from chronic intake of a high-selenium diet; however, occasional occurrences of acute toxicosis are due to oral or parenteral dosing with improperly formulated supplements. Coccidia are parasites which can damage an alpacas small intestinal lining. Using sterile gloves, carefully squeeze out the excess pus and flush the wound with disinfectant. Your local cooperative extension office or veterinarian should be able to offer recommendations. It is caused by a nutritional deficiency of selenium, Vitamin E, or both. Selenium absorption in the digestive tract can reach 98%; however, it varies with the form of selenium and other dietary constituents. Advanced anemia in alpacas can lead to Bottle Jaw (see below). If you suspect an alpaca may have an upper respiratory infection, its important to get an immediate veterinary consultation to determine its cause as some infections are considerably more dangerous and harder to treat than others. In alpacas, abscesses refer to lumps, boils, or bulges, typically near their neck or shoulder, but with the possibility to form anywhere. As a preventative measure, you should have a lab perform a fecal test on alpacas every three months to ensure that they are not facing a dangerous parasitic infection. The two most common enzymes that are utilized are ceruloplasmin and superoxide dismutase (Suttle, 1986; Mills, 1987). It may be possible to also transmit the disease in the womb. Your veterinarian can recommend an appropriate anthelmintic treatment and determine if there is a secondary infection that requires treatment. Selenium Deficiency | Causes, Signs & Symptoms Selenium Deficiency This is caused by extreme anemia in the alpaca resulting in watery tissue in their jaw, and requires immediate intervention to reverse their anemia, which could be life-threatening. Spaying and neutering is a crucial tool in pig healthcare to help them live long, healthy lives. and the endocrine system. More serious stomach aches can be caused by eating too much grain or eating on a new or rich pasture, such as alfalfa. Selenium (Se) supplementation in alpacas Criagenesis It is possible (though very rare) for CL to spread to humans, so its important to maintain good biosecurity when handling alpacas suspected of having CL. When the skeletal muscle is afflicted, an alpaca will have an arched back, appear to be hunched over, and move very stiffly. Prevention is key. External CL refers to abscesses on the skin, which can become internal through blood or the lymphatic system, moving on to affect an alpacas lymph nodes and organs. (Back to top), Typically transmitted by bloodsucking insects, Mycoplasma haemolamae is a blood infection that can affect alpacas. For ruminants, the maximum tolerable limit for selenium in forage is 5 mcg/g; for dogs, cats, and fish, it is 2 mcg/g; and for swine, the limit falls in between. Dummy calf. Causes, preventative measures Plant This mineral plays a key role in your thyroid glands ability to produce thyroid hormone. Animals that graze are susceptible to the disease after eating contaminated grass. Selenium is a micronutrient, and a certain amount is required in the diet. Infection occurs when infective larvae are ingested while animals graze. Caught early, Enterotoxemia can be treated with CD antitoxin. A selenium deficiency is associated with a variety of thyroid issues, including: 2. (Back to top), Pink eye in alpacas can be a serious disease, and comes in both infectious and noninfectious forms. Its necessary for many processes, such as: Measurements of serum and plasma selenium concentrations reflect the selenium associated with plasma proteins, which can fluctuate relatively rapidly along with exposure patterns. A few common crop and forage species are relatively selenium tolerant and can accumulate selenium, including Medicago sativa (alfalfa), Triticum spp (wheat), and Hordeum vulgare (barley). Treatment involves giving alpacas vitamin E and selenium nutritional booster shots, which should show positive results within a day. See a more detailed explanation here. Detoxification of infected pasture and hay is not possible, but there may be strategies you can implement to reduce the levels of slaframine present. Doctors suspect selenium deficiency based on the persons circumstances and symptoms. Typically, an alpacas immune system with take care of infections, but younger, elderly, and immune system-compromised alpacas can be dangerously infected. You should be checking for lice every time you conduct an alpaca health checkup! Its important that when an alpaca gets access to a new pasture, they should not be allowed to graze on it freely until their digestive system adjusts to it, especially if the pasture has quick growing plants like clover or alfalfa. When the skeletal muscle is afflicted, an alpaca will have an arched back, appear to be hunched over, and move very stiffly. All rights reserved. Vitamin E/Selenium Deficiency Selenium Deficiency If you suspect an alpaca cannot urinate, its very important to contact a veterinarian immediately as this is very dangerous for their health. Certain diseases will require additional care and treatment of the abscessed alpaca. Selenium Intake and A fully recovered alpaca might remain weak for the rest of their life. People who are deficient in selenium may develop various diseases. These are the symptoms of low selenium (just remember, they could also indicate other deficiencies! These include Keshan disease, Anemic alpacas can be treated with high protein food on a temporary basis, as well as additional minerals or iron supplements, probiotics, and vitamin B-12 to help restore red blood cells. There are medicines available to treat infections. Alpacas eating infected pasture, hay, or silage typically show signs of slaframine toxicosis within an hour, with the first symptom being excessive salivation (hence, slobbers). The best prevention is keeping the alpacas living space clean and uncrowded! Signs of abdominal pain have been described in production animals, An alpaca with pink eye should be isolated to avoid spreading the disease and kept in a cool, shady location removed from sunlight. If an alpaca is suffering from an internal parasite, it is likely a strongyle, but there are other, more dangerous parasites such as lungworms, barber pole, and coccidia. One study of llamas found that severity of symptoms was not a reliable indicator of prognosis. This is a rare red blood cell infection in alpacas. It is very important to treat all pink eye early in alpacas as it can lead to blindness, and in dire cases, the infection can travel to the alpacas brain and become fatal. The deficiency in selenium consumption affects mental health, contributing to the development of major depressive disorders. Use for phrases Many of the Symptoms can include weight loss, sluggishness, and stomach discomfort. Thiamine (Vitamin B1): Deficiency Symptoms Symptoms of an upper respiratory infection include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, increased body temperature or fever, and loss of appetite. White muscle disease can affect heart muscle, skeletal muscle, or both. Selenate and selenite can be converted into selenide in biological systems. Confirmations of anthrax must be reported to government officials. A fully recovered alpaca might remain weak for the rest of their life. These paralyzed pigs generally do not recover. WebSigns and symptoms[edit] Selenium deficiency in combination with Coxsackievirusinfection can lead to Keshan disease, which is potentially fatal. WebOther signs of selenium deficiency in calves: Growth retardation before and after weaning May develop Heinz-body anemia ( Morris et al., 1984 ). You Have A Selenium Deficiency: Signs These indicator species include many species of Astragalus (locoweeds) as well as Xylorhiza spp (woody aster), Stanleya spp (princes plume), Oonopsis (false golden weed), Machaeranthera spp (tansy aster), and Haplopappus spp (golden weed). Make extra sure that their environment is as arthritis-friendly as can be, minimizing steep grades or long walks to food or water if you can! Selenium: Essential for Livestock Health Symptoms can include an alpaca having difficulty urinating or passing a trickle of urine at time. Advanced anemia in alpacas can lead to Bottle Jaw (see below). The infected area loses hair and appears crusty. This can lead to weight loss, frequent regurgitation or frothing of an alpacas food, and difficulty eating. Treatment involves applying approved medicated ointments to sores and thoroughly cleaning anywhere where the affected alpaca had been spending time. (Back to top), Parelaphostrongylus Tenuis(P. tenuis) is a parasitic worm whose natural host is the white-tailed deer. Treatment involves cleaning off the crust the and application of a topical antifungal cream. Vitamin B3 deficiencies affect every cell, Oversupplementation or improper supplement formulation are other possible causes of chronic or acute selenium toxicosis in domestic animals. Body weight loss and a decline in BCS are the most common presenting signs. The bacteria can activate and contaminate soil and grass in certain weather conditions, especially wet and cool weather followed by hot and dry weather. If you are concerned that an alpaca might be suffering from a stomach ache, its critical that you contact your veterinarian, as it can be fatal. It is especially dangerous in young alpacas, who may not be able to properly nurse when infected and can quickly become malnourished. Although alpacas do not suffer from contagious foot rot like goats and sheep, the bacteria in alpaca and alpaca foot rot can be contagious for up to 7 days. WebTwo conditions are associated with severe selenium deficiency: 1) Keshan disease, a type of cardiomyopathy, or disease of heart muscle, and 2) Kashin-Beck disease, a form of An afflicted alpaca might also lose weight, suffer from depression, dehydration, constipation, and lack of appetite. Keratin from the hoof wall has been used as a long-term indicator of selenium status. Selenium toxicosis is reported in numerous species, and because of its toxicological importance, the US FDA has set a maximum concentration of 0.3 mcg/g for animal feeds. We have also seen success treating arthritis pains with more natural remedies such as Botswella (also known as Indian Frankincense) to successfully lower inflammation as well as anecdotally, CBD oil. Abscesses can also form as a result of Caseous Lymphadenitis, a highly contagious condition (see more below). WebVitamin E/Selenium Deficiency. The disease can be fatal if untreated. Skin/Coat: Abscesses, Anemia, Arthritis, CL, Lice, Mange, Sore Mouth, Social Changes: Anaplasmosis, Anemia, Anthrax, Arthritis, Barber Pole, Listeriosis, Mycoplasma haemolamae, Slaframine Toxicosis (Slobbers), Stomach Ache, Tapeworms, Upper Respiratory Infection, White Muscle Disease, Udder: Abscesses, CL, Lice, Mastitis, Sore Mouth, Weight: Anaplasmosis, Anemia, Arthritis, Barber Pole, CL, Coccidiosis, Internal Parasites, Johnes Disease, Listeriosis, Megaesophagus, Mycoplasma haemolamae, Tapeworms, In alpacas, abscesses refer to lumps, boils, or bulges, typically near their neck or shoulder, but with the possibility to form anywhere. Selenium deficiency diseases are more widespread than selenium toxicosis. Also known as paratuberculosis, Johnes disease is a fatal contagious gastrointestinal disease caused by the bacteria. Absolute confirmation ofP. tenuiscan only be made during a post-mortem examination. Elimination. There are medicines available to treat infections. In more advanced cases, an alpaca may lose some hair and the underlying skin might become thick and hard. BVDV can cause subclinical disease or acute illness, but the most concerning characteristic of this virus is its ability to create persistently infected (PI) individuals. As a preventative measure, you should have a lab perform a fecal test on alpacas every three months to ensure that they are not facing a dangerous parasitic infection and have appropriate treatment policies in place for infected alpacas. Selenium Deficiency The most typical case of urinary calculi in alpacas comes when a male alpaca is fed too much grain or generally has a calcium phosphorus imbalance in their diet, sometimes from an alfalfa-rich diet. Acute selenium toxicosis occasionally results from oral or parenteral supplement overdose and is characterized by rapid cardiovascular collapse in horses and ruminants, and with poliomyelomalacia in swine. Chronic myocardial necrosis with areas of fibrosis is possible in animals with chronic selenosis. Chronic selenosis is most common in areas of the world with high soil selenium bioavailability; it can also occur as a result of long-term oversupplementation. The cornea of the alpacas eye might become hazy or opaque. The best prevention is to ensure that alpacas have access to nutritional sources that are rich in both vitamin E and selenium throughout the year! The trusted provider of veterinary information since 1955, Last review/revision Aug 2022 | Modified Nov 2022. Typically, a ringworm infection affects an alpacas legs, feet, and face. CL is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis which can cause localized enlarged pain-free abscesses on an alpacas skin, lymph nodes, and organs. If you believe a resident is facing a health issue, always discuss with a qualified veterinarian as soon as possible. They might also act depressed, or stretch out their hind legs while they stand, walk more stiffly than usual, and generally prefer not to move. Glutathione peroxidase activity can be used to diagnose selenium deficiency, but is less useful in the diagnosis of selenium toxicosis. Anthrax can quickly spread to other animals from the infected alpaca, including humans. Selenide, similar to sulfur, has an oxidation state of 2 and can substitute for sulfur in critical proteins, causing dysfunction. It is spread in alpacas through contact with spores that infect their hair and skin. An alpaca can have either acute mastitis or chronic mastitis, the latter typically undetected throughout an alpacas life. Kidney selenium concentrations are higher than liver concentrations; however, in cases of toxicosis, this ratio can be reversed. Skeletal muscle pallor and hemorrhage have been described in horses. White muscle disease is a degenerative disease that can be found in both sheep and alpacas. Be careful about feeding alpacas an exclusive concentrate food as this can quickly imbalance their nutrition. Feeds high in the concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids, copper, vitamin A or mycotoxins can either destroy vitamin E or make it less bioavailable. Anemic alpacas can be treated with high protein food on a temporary basis, as well as additional minerals or iron supplements, probiotics, and vitamin B-12 to help restore red blood cells.