We didn't know how this was going to end

How would it end?... We didn't know.

For the most part, everyday life with the herd goes along swimmingly, yet suddenly, one of our alpacas was on the ground.

Did she trip?  Did she get bumped while jostling for food and knocked off her feet?  

We didn't see what happened. It occurred while we walked with the herd to feed them their evening meal and then we heard the thud.

We both looked back and found Amity on the ground, struggling to get up on her feet. With a little help, she did.

We thought the situation was odd and tucked it into our minds to keep watch in case it became more than just a coincidence.

The next day we noticed Amity favoring her right rear leg and limping.  We also observed her struggling to stand up from a cushed (lying down) position.  

We checked Amity for any signs of an injury, but there wasn't any noticeable swelling, sensitivity, or pain in her leg, although it was clearly weak.  

Our thoughts went directly to the possibility that she had a parasite: the meningeal worm (a/k/a "brain worm" or "deer worm"), which is the worst of the worst parasites to get because it attacks the central nervous system and has a high mortality rate if symptoms are not caught early enough.  

One of the first and most obvious signs is posterior weakness, and that may be what we saw in Amity.

While it is possible that it could have simply been an injury, we weren't taking any chances, and immediately began a de-wormer treatment for five days of fenbendazole (a/k/a safeguard) to kill the parasite and ten days of Banamine for inflammation.

We checked her body temperature (it was normal) and her eyes for signs of anemia (saw healthy pink hues) and called the vet to discuss the situation.

Our vet confirmed that our first response was correct as she would have advised us to take all the steps we were already doing.

Two days into Amity's de-wormer treatment, I was able to collect a poo sample from Amity and conducted a fecal test. This confirmed that no intestinal parasites were evident.  While that was good news, it did not confirm that she was parasite free because the meningeal worm is the only parasite that would not show up in a fecal test.

We scheduled a farm visit with the Vet the next day to examine Amity to ensure we weren't missing any symptoms or conditions that the Vet's skills and knowledge may detect that we would not.  

The Vet examined Amity's leg and, like us, found no swelling, pain, or discomfort and also confirmed that Amity's leg had a full range of motion - Amity demonstrated that she was using her leg, but it was clearly weak. 

The Vet concluded that all physical signs were likely pointing to the meningeal worm but she would not rule out that it could be a soft tissue injury.  

There is no way to diagnose meningeal worm except by necropsy, and at this point, that wasn't an option. 

Time and care would tell.

We continued with Amity's treatment and careful daily monitoring for any physical or behavioral changes that would indicate improvement or decline.  

Cue the lyrics from The Police: Every breath you take, every step you take, I'll be watching you

A couple of weeks have passed and we're happy to report that Amity is doing much better.

We still don't know if it was a meningeal worm or soft tissue injury; Amity still favors her leg but much less so from a couple of weeks ago.

Before we treated her, her leg was clearly weak, and she could not rely on that leg/foot for stability, but now she is putting a lot more weight on her leg, is far more stable on her feet, and is acting more like herself - confident, herd leader.

When Amity fell, we noticed that she became cautious and quietly stayed closer to the back of the herd with the shy girls (Genny & Razzie).  

By the end of Amity's de-wormer treatment, we could tell that she was feeling much better because not only was her leg improving, but her outgoing personality had returned as well as her place near the front of the herd, greeting us happily whenever we were in the barn.  

Crisis averted - phew!

So what tips can I offer from our experience?

• familiarize yourself with potential ailments and threats your pet or animal can be exposed to
• always observe & be aware of normal behaviors so you can detect when something isn't right before it gets worse. 
• investigate and research symptoms and treatments
• keep first-aid items handy 
• follow your gut but try not to overthink (you'll drive yourself crazy, believe me)
• if you are unsure or need help, consult with your veterinarian 
• keep a log of what your see so you don't have to hold it all in your head
• constantly monitor and be patient

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Farm Tours

It's been a busy Autumn. Our weekends have been full with a steady flow of visitors under the slowly evolving backdrop of changing leaf colors, temperatures slowly dropping, and alpaca coats getting thicker.  

We've had a great time with everyone and look forward to seeing new and familiar faces when self-scheduling tours resume in 2023.  

While our farm tours may have ended for the season, we captured some great moments.

Here is a collection of some of the smiling faces and great moments that the alpacas generated.

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Shopping Extravaganza!

On November 19 and 20, Granite State Alpacas will be among 150 of New England's finest Artists, Craftsmen, and Specialty Food creators. 

It is a destination you will want to visit with:

• Fine art, paintings & jewelry
• pottery
• apparel
• wood decor & carvings
• homewares
• metal art
• personal care
• candles
• specialty foods
• apparel
• alpaca products  
• and more!

This is an opportunity to find many unique, one-of-a-kind items, meet the makers, and feel good about supporting local businesses from all over New England whether you are shopping for yourself, or friends and family - all in one location: 

• Food Trucks
• Mobile Cocktail Bar
• Door Prizes
• Demonstrations
• Specialty foods
• Holiday Music
• Thousands of Handmade wares both indoors and outdoors

Join us at The Rim Sports Complex, in its huge 40,000 s.f. space at 
311 Winnacunnet Rd
Hampton, NH

$5 tickets at the Door (valid both days)
Ages 14 & under free

To purchase advance tickets (no processing fee) and skip the line, visit www.gnecraftartisanshows.com 

Can't make it or don't live locally?  Visit Granite State Alpacas online shop www.granitestatealpacas.com .