Camelid Health Basics
Alpacas and llamas have quite different health needs to more traditional farm species, and general sheep or cattle knowledge doesn't always translate directly. As one of the few local practices with dedicated camelid experience, we've put together an overview of the key areas of camelid health and husbandry.
Routine health checks
Regular body condition scoring — camelids' thick fleece can easily hide weight loss, so hands-on assessment is more reliable than visual inspection alone.
Annual or biannual veterinary health checks, including dental and general physical examination.
Faecal worm egg counts, since camelids can carry gut parasites similar to sheep and cattle, and targeted testing helps avoid unnecessary treatment and resistance.
Vaccination
Camelids are susceptible to clostridial diseases, similar to sheep and cattle, and vaccination is generally recommended as part of a routine health programme.
There are no vaccines specifically licensed for camelids in the UK, so products are used under veterinary guidance ("off-label" / under the cascade) based on best available evidence.
Common health issues
Parasites: including gastrointestinal worms and external parasites such as mites, which can cause a condition similar to mange.
Dental disease: camelids have continuously erupting teeth; overgrown or maloccluded teeth can cause weight loss and difficulty eating if not managed.
Heat stress: camelids are prone to overheating in warm weather due to their dense fleece, particularly if unshorn — shade, water and, where needed, shearing are important in summer months.
Vitamin D deficiency: UK camelids, particularly darker-fleeced animals with limited sun exposure, are at risk of vitamin D deficiency (a condition sometimes seen as rickets in young, growing animals) and often benefit from supplementation over winter.
Toxic plants: camelids are susceptible to several common toxic plants and shrubs (including rhododendron, yew and bracken); pasture and boundary hedges are worth checking regularly.
Husbandry considerations
Shearing: typically performed annually, both for welfare (preventing heat stress) and fleece management.
Toenail trimming: camelid toenails grow continuously and need regular trimming, particularly in animals kept on soft ground.
Herd/group housing: camelids are herd animals and shouldn't be kept alone — at minimum, in pairs, ideally in a small group.
Fencing: standard sheep fencing is often inadequate; camelids do best with secure, appropriately spaced fencing that also excludes dogs and other predators.
Breeding considerations
Camelids are induced ovulators, meaning ovulation is triggered by mating rather than occurring on a fixed cycle — this affects how breeding and pregnancy diagnosis are approached compared with sheep or cattle.
Pregnancy in camelids lasts around 11–12 months, considerably longer than sheep or cattle.
Cria (baby camelids) require close monitoring in the first hours and days of life, particularly around colostrum intake and temperature regulation.
Still have questions?
Camelid health can be a specialist area, and we're glad to be able to offer dedicated experience with alpacas and llamas locally. If you'd like to discuss a health plan for your herd, or have a specific concern, please contact us on 01797 252321.