Dehydration in Llamas During Capture and Chemical Immobilization

The llama (Llama glama) is a New World or South American camelid (family Camelidae), a group of animals also referenced as lamoids. This particular group includes llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos. It is believed that llamas were derived primarily from the latter species.

While llamas and alpacas have been domesticated for thousands of years, undomesticated guanacos and vicunas still roam in herds in the mountains of Chile, Peru, and Bolivia. Like the camels of the Middle East, Africa and Asia, lamoids are believed to have originated in North America over 40 million years ago. Lamoids subsequently migrated to South America and camels migrated west via the Bering Strait, later becoming extinct in North America.¹

Today, the majority of llamas live in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. Over the last 40 years, South American exporters have been transporting llamas to farmers and breeders around the world, primarily North America, Australia, and Europe. As a result, llamas have become popular among farmers, breeders, and exotic pet enthusiasts.²

Llamas are pseudo-ruminants, with a single stomach divided into three compartments (instead of four, like other ruminants). In the field, llamas graze on grasses and plants. On farms, llamas will eat grass or hay. They consume approximately two pounds per 125 pounds of body weight daily in hay or fresh pasture. ³ Llamas also have a very long large intestine which allows them to go for long periods without water.²

Lamoids vary by size and purpose, with some (such as llamas) being used as pack animals and others (such as alpacas) being valued for their fleece.¹ Being the largest of the New World camelids, the llama is primarily employed as a pack animal, but it is also used for its fleece, leather and meat. Adult llamas range in height from 5-1/2 feet to 6 feet tall and weigh between 290 to 440 pounds.¹ They have short tails and large, banana-shaped ears. Their feet are narrow and padded on the bottom, allowing these animals to comfortably navigate rough mountain terrain.²

Llamas are social animals that do very well living in herds. Females are called “dams” or “hembras,” while males are called “studs” or “machos.” Castrated males are called “geldings.” Llama offspring are called “crias.” Llamas breed in the late summer and fall. Their gestation period is approximately 11 months, after which the female gives birth to one young.³Female llamas will give birth with the other females in the herd gathered around her to protect the cria from predators. Crias are able to walk and suckle within the first hour of life.^1-3 Llamas have an average lifespan of 20 years.

Llamas communicate through a variety of humming noises, and it is said that they can distinguish between different vocalizations. When they recognize danger, llamas will let out a shrill moan to alert members of the herd. In South America, llamas are sometimes used as livestock guards for flocks of sheep, with geldings typically being trained for these missions.³

Interestingly, despite the llama’s pleasant demeanor, it has been recommended that llama owners and farmers refrain from over socializing these animals, since it can lead to something called “berserk llama syndrome” in male llamas. This has been described as a condition that affects the males when they become too comfortable with humans, see them as fellow herd members and try to dominate them.³

Llamas and Chemical Immobilization

Researchers, veterinarians and llama farmers are sometimes required to employ chemical immobilization of llamas for a variety of reasons. Research in this area has revealed that the physiological and behavioral effects of capture—regardless of the method—can be as important as the direct risks of injury or death of an animal.^4,5 This holds true even in the case of animals that have been as widely domesticated as llamas.

There are several stressors involved in the chemical immobilization of llamas that can lead to complications during or after an anesthetic event. The overall health of an individual animal—which might be poor, and in some cases the very reason for its capture—is also a factor affecting the potential for complications during and after anesthesia.

These stressors fall into four categories:

• Physiological: Heavy exercise, hemorrhage, hyperthermia, shock, pain, infection
• Physical: Trauma/surgery, intense heat/cold
• Chemical: Hypoxemia, acid-base imbalance, anesthetic drugs
• Emotional: Anxiety, fear⁶

Chemical immobilization is represented by the third category, although elements of the others may be included in immobilization events. The physical stress of capture and/or attempts to escape during capture on the part of an animal certainly constitute physiological stress; surgical and even environmental conditions can bring about physical stress, and anxiety and fear are nearly always a component to some degree in a capture scenario.

Even though llamas are largely domesticated, the effects of acute stress during capture can include spikes in adrenaline, cortisol levels, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, metabolic rate, blood glucose, lactic acid and body temperature, while bringing about a decrease in pH and a redistribution of blood within the organs. The effects of capture and anesthesia can activate the fight-or-flight response, HPA-axis activation, hyperthermia, respiratory depression (hypoxemia), lactid acid build-up and acidosis. In severe cases, this can lead to neurological/myocardial dysfunction, multi-organ failure, capture myopathy and death.^5,6

Dehydration in the Llama

Water is so important to the body’s functionality that all bodily functions require it to remain operative. If an animal loses more water and electrolytes than it is taking in, it will begin to dehydrate and its health will quickly deteriorate. Electrolytes are minerals that naturally occur in all animals and are carried in water, and they are essential for proper health. Electrolytes are comprised of sodium, chloride and potassium, and facilitate the movement of nutrients into cells, aid in muscle function, and help regulate nerve activities.^5,6 While dehydration may seem like a minor concern compared to some surgical complications, inasmuch as it can lead directly to cardiac arrest, dehydration is potentially quite dangerous.

A llama’s natural biological functions—breathing, urinating, and defecating, as well as simple evaporation—can all cause it to lose fluids. When an animal eats and drinks, the lost water and electrolytes are replaced. If the animal’s fluid intake becomes less than what they are losing, dehydration will occur.

Understanding Dehydration in Llamas

The dynamics of dehydration are concerned with the distribution of fluid and water throughout the body. Total body water (TBW) comprises approximately 60% of an animal’s body weight. Approximately 67% of TBW is found inside the body’s cells; this is referred to as intracellular fluid (ICF). The remaining 33% of TBW is the extracellular fluid (ECF), which comprises:

• Interstitial fluid, which bathes cells and tissues (~24% of TBW)
• Plasma, the liquid portion of blood, which constitutes most of intravascular volume (~8%–10% of TBW)
• Transcellular fluid, which comprises synovial joint fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, bile, and the fluid in the linings of the peritoneal cavity, pericardium, and pleural space (~2% of TBW)⁵

An approximate formula for the distribution of fluids in the body is the 60:40:20 rule: 60% of an animal’s body weight is water, 40% of body weight is ICF, and 20% of body weight is ECF.^5,6

Dehydration in llamas can be caused by hyperthermia, chronic vomiting or diarrhea, excessive urination or wound drainage. In both human and veterinary practices, IV fluids are usually administered prophylactically, depending on the nature of the procedure. Veterinarians often provide fluid therapy to patients for many reasons, including correction of dehydration, expansion and support of intravascular volume, correction of electrolyte disturbances, and encouragement of appropriate redistribution of fluids that may be in the wrong compartment (e.g., peritoneal effusion).⁵

Treating Dehydration in Llamas

Monitoring core body temperature is essential in camelid anesthesia, and intubation has been widely recommended for any anesthetized llama that needs to be transported or anesthetized for greater than twenty minutes.⁶ During immobilization events, hydration status can be assessed using various tests.

One of the easiest to perform is a skin tent test. This checks the turgor (moisture level) of the skin. To do this, the skin over the thorax or lumbar region is pulled away from the back. In a well-hydrated animal, the skin immediately snaps back to its normal resting position. If the tent formed remains standing, it is a likely indication of dehydration. If there is evidence of dehydration in a llama during a procedure, all administration of immobilizing drugs must be immediately suspended. Fluid therapy should begin in the form of lactated Ringer’s solution or 0.9% saline, IV, SQ or IP.⁵

The use of perioperative IV fluid therapy is very common in veterinary medicine. This allows for the restoration of intravascular volume, correct dehydration, and the administration of IV medications quickly.⁶ While perioperative fluid therapy under many field conditions may be impractical, fluids should always be available in the case of dehydration when chemically immobilizing llamas.