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blutterfli
4 Posts |
 Posted - 04/26/2012 : 09:03:08 AM
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We had a first time mom attempt to deliver a cria yesterday. The baby was delivered past the last rib (mid torso) and got stuck. We consulted with an experienced colleague as well as the vet and for an hour and a half tried rotating and pulling every possible position to try to get the baby out- he was STUCK!! It seemed very odd, as the hips normally slide right out at this stage of delivery?! We rushed to the vet and he was able to finally get the baby out, only to find that he had a rare congenital birth defect called arthrogryposis. Both of his rear legs were fused in a cushed position; the front half was perfect. Apparently his hips had been wedged against the pelvis during delivery and because of his condition the legs couldn't extend to allow him to slide out. There is no cure or treatment for the condition, so we elected to have him put down. The delivery was very traumatic for mom and she is extremely sore, but doing well. We have her on antibiotics as well as banamine and are watching her closely. Based on what I've read and from what the vet explained they see this in calves, lambs and piglets from time to time. There is not a lot of info. out there on this condition.
Has anyone ever seen this in alpacas? One thing I know for sure is we will not repeat the breeding!
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Gemfire
40 Posts |
Posted - 04/26/2012 : 5:36:27 PM
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Last spring we had a first time mom have the same problem. It took the vet long time to deliver the cria. Vet really had to stretch mom to get the back legs out. That was on a Tuesday. Vet had been out on Monday to check her, she was very uncomfortable . Wednesday we take the cria in and had a transfusion done since she had not gotten any first milk and vet thought if we worked with her back legs that we could get movement going. Mom was doing fine though she was still swollen on the back side. Thursday night come home from work and momma is flat out on her side so off we go to the vet again with momma. They keep her so home again and bring cria into the house and bottle feed which we had been doing. Friday morning vet calls and momma had passed away. She was still warm so he was able to feel a cold spot on her back thigh. He does a necropsy, comes up with nothing but when he cuts into the cold spot there is blood and pus. The cold spot was malignant edema caused from the stretching to get baby out and damaged the muscle. Only thing vet would have done differently is if the cold spot had been there the night before a shot of penicillin right into the spot would have maybe saved her life. Of course Friday night cria, little Amity we called her became septic and off to the vet again and given an IV to keep her fluids up but alas she passed away that night and when her temp was at 106 I stopped checking, just kept wash cloth with cool water on her to make her as comfortable as possible. So please keep an eye on your female and I hope she continues to do well. I have also read about other cria's having the legs not flexing like they should but with work they straighten out.
Denny & Connie Snell
Spring Ridge Alpacas
Lakeville, Ohio 44638
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BOlsen
93 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2012 : 09:24:35 AM
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So sorry to hear of your cria. A friend of mine had a female deliver a cria that had arthrogryposis of only the tarsal joint of one rear leg. Other than the one "frozen" joint this cria was absolutely normal in every other way. In fact my friend submitted an article on this cria to CQ Mag. Believe it or not the cria was born unassisted! And no trauma to the dam. Cria was "3 legged" but learned to get up and down and run on its own and grew well. He went to a new home when he was about a year old and last I heard was still doing very well. The dam's next cria was absolutely normal but bred to a different stud.
You are right - not much out there on this in alpacas, which I guess is because it is quite rare (thankfully).
All the best to you and your dam & cria.
Brian Olsen
Haven Rest Farm, WI |
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Cria with fused joints (arthrogryposis)
