Marty McGee Bennett
08-03-2005, 02:13 PM
Good Day, Marty. I*had the pleasure of meeting*you at*a clinic last year...
*Need name of medication you recommended for those especially difficult llamas/alpacas. One of our llamas is*very much a*"don't touch me" girl and that's O K.*However, its time for her yearly shearing session so that she doesn't suffer during the summer months. We have*been successful in cutting*some of it off*but*weren't able to finish because she*is *being*way, way too temperamental about the whole thing. She showered us with spit as we slowly and*patiently*attempted to shear. We used hand clippers--as she won'*t tolerate noisy clippers. We*administered*ACE which was*useless. You*stated that ACE is*similar to having a cocktail or two.......and it seemed to me that*she was*panic-stricken when she was placed in the*chute for shearing*like a rowdy drunk instead of*becoming calmer. Another llama was too. Never again will be put those two through that brief but fearful experience. The other female llamas do well with being chutted/sheared.
*
Was it turbogesic that you*spoke of at the clinic?*Is it administered IM?*We have learned two things this year: 1) ACE is useless. 2) Restraining chutes are only useful for some quick task like admininstering meds.
Our llama girl*weights about 250 lbs.*(275 max) and is*one smart*llama--as she knows our*laid back temperaments*well enough to manipulate us. :-)
Torbugesic or Butorphenol. Same drug but Torb is the brand name and Butorphenol is the drug name. It is typically given IM in the front muscle- triceps and then wait 10-15 minutes. Should work great but do try not to get her stressed giving the shot. I am not a vet and this is a controlled drug so it is important to involve your veterinarian. Some vets will draw up a dose for you and let you take it home and administer it others want to give it themselves. A vet can get in big trouble if they don't control the drug properly so I think it is totally reasonable if they want to give it. It is well worth the price of a farm call to be able to provide a proper level of sedation for a llama or an alpaca that panics with handling.
*Need name of medication you recommended for those especially difficult llamas/alpacas. One of our llamas is*very much a*"don't touch me" girl and that's O K.*However, its time for her yearly shearing session so that she doesn't suffer during the summer months. We have*been successful in cutting*some of it off*but*weren't able to finish because she*is *being*way, way too temperamental about the whole thing. She showered us with spit as we slowly and*patiently*attempted to shear. We used hand clippers--as she won'*t tolerate noisy clippers. We*administered*ACE which was*useless. You*stated that ACE is*similar to having a cocktail or two.......and it seemed to me that*she was*panic-stricken when she was placed in the*chute for shearing*like a rowdy drunk instead of*becoming calmer. Another llama was too. Never again will be put those two through that brief but fearful experience. The other female llamas do well with being chutted/sheared.
*
Was it turbogesic that you*spoke of at the clinic?*Is it administered IM?*We have learned two things this year: 1) ACE is useless. 2) Restraining chutes are only useful for some quick task like admininstering meds.
Our llama girl*weights about 250 lbs.*(275 max) and is*one smart*llama--as she knows our*laid back temperaments*well enough to manipulate us. :-)
Torbugesic or Butorphenol. Same drug but Torb is the brand name and Butorphenol is the drug name. It is typically given IM in the front muscle- triceps and then wait 10-15 minutes. Should work great but do try not to get her stressed giving the shot. I am not a vet and this is a controlled drug so it is important to involve your veterinarian. Some vets will draw up a dose for you and let you take it home and administer it others want to give it themselves. A vet can get in big trouble if they don't control the drug properly so I think it is totally reasonable if they want to give it. It is well worth the price of a farm call to be able to provide a proper level of sedation for a llama or an alpaca that panics with handling.