04/16/07 A warning for llama and alpaca owners

Washington Ag April 16, 2007 Now that the weather is warming up Washington State University Veterinary College is warning llama and alpaca owners in the region to be on the lookout for tick paralysis. Stacey Byers, veterinarian and camelid and agricultural animal medical resident at WSU says tick paralysis occurs when certain species of ticks inject potent toxins into the host animal. She says those ticks are found in the inland northwest and llamas and alpacas seem particularly susceptible to the toxin, which can prove fatal. Byers: "They should be watching for an animal that appears to be stumbling around. More reluctant to get up. Maybe not eating as much. And the issue is during hot days with an animal that is less inclined to get up and move to shade you can get some issues with heat stroke. But just mainly a change in behavior." Byers says treatment is effective and reversal of paralysis can be rapid. As a preventative measure llama and alpaca owners can work with their veterinarian on a proper dose of the drug ivermectin. Byers: "It is a pretty commonly used product and has been shown to work very well against ticks." Each spring and summer, WSU's veterinary teaching hospital sees or provides consultation on several cases of tick paralysis in llamas and alpacas. I'm Bob Hoff.