Table 3.

Advice on health management and diagnostics for alpaca owners, practising veterinarians and pathologists based on our results

Advice for alpaca owners	Do not delay in contacting your veterinarian if an alpaca is losing weight or showing signs of emaciation or has signs of disease and/or pain. Make sure all neonates receive colostrum during the first hours of life to allow passive transfer of immunity and diminish risk of infections. Prevent emaciation in weaning alpacas by: Feeding them high-quality forage. Providing concentrates for cold climate, growth and stress. Using regular body scoring to control weight. Using individually adapted weaning: do not wean a cria which is unfit nutritionally or mentally and avoid weaning during periods of extreme cold.
Advice for practising veterinarians	Improve diagnostic procedures in neonatal intensive care—quick tests for failure of passive transfer of immunity used for calves work for alpacas as well. Improve use of field diagnostics to detect chronic illness and severe acute conditions. Be aware of the stoic nature of camelids and act quickly if the alpaca shows signs of disease or pain. Consider diagnosis and treatment of hepatic lipidosis in diseased and inappetent camelids of all age groups.
Advice for pathologists	The diagnostic procedures for aborted alpaca fetuses should be standardised for better consistency. Discuss possible causes of death in the final necropsy reports, even when the cause of death could not be identified—this will encourage owners to submit their dead alpacas for necropsy.