April 14.2009

April 14, 2009: Well, I've done what I didn't want to do...let my journal lapse. I've been so busy with volunteer activities and Easter preparations and the flu that it just got away from me! Well, now we'll get caught up.


We finally got our alpaca pellets and they love them! I had Kevin build long narrow feeders for them and they are pefect for the pellets and minerals. I had not put rocks into them as I have read numerous times to do. Well, I was sorry I hadn't yesterday. As I said, I had the flu and have been very tired, so I didn't go out to feed them as early as I usually do. I sprinkled the pellets into the feeder, and Flo wolfed them down and started choking. She coughed and barked and drooled until finally she was able to swallow. After that, I put rocks in the feeders. Apparantly, the animal has to pick around the rocks and eats more slowly. VERY scary!



The alpacas and I have been slowly getting acquainted. Ishtar, unfortunately is the leader and she has been very unsociable. The rest have been reluctantly following her lead. When I've entered the area, they've exited. When they've even heard me approaching the pasture they've become very alert and have gone to the far side! Hamilton, Flo and Dovis look like thay would like to approach and Hamilton especially is fascinated by our dogs!



Yesterday we had a breakthrough!! I called our new vet, Dr. Dan, to make an appointment, and as luck would have it, he was in the area. Another stroke of luck was that Jack was off school and had a group of his buddies here (including Ian, who helped us the day they arrived!) which came in handy because we had to herd the alpacas into the barn for the first time and close them into one of the stalls for their check up. I wasn't sure how that would go because they don't seem to like going into a place where they can't see the way out. With the boys assisting me, we managed to get them into the barn in about 5 minutes amazingly! They took to their stall quite well, and all fit without being cramped. Our convertable stalls just passed their first test!

When Dr. Dan arrived, he spent time just letting the alpacas get used to his voice by answering some of our questions and concerns before he even approached them.

Then the fun began! I needed to learn how to administer the deworming medicine(dectomax) by subcutaneous injection. He showed me how to hold the animal next to me and to reach down and feel the hairless part right around what I guess could be called the armpit. Then he showed me how to pull up the skin away from the muscle and inject the medicine. The first one was really easy because it was Dovis and he did it while I held! My turn came and yes, I got to do Ishtar! I'm going to give her a little slack because she IS pregnant and due at the end of June. She must be hormonal! Yesterday I caught her blocking everyone else from the hay and spitting at all of them when they approached her!! I remember being like that when was pregnant and going through the McDonald's drive thru! So it was my turn and I was very nervous. I didn't want to hurt her and it is pretty hard to see, so you just have to feel. Jay dispensed the medicine for us (1 cc per 70 # of body weight).

Dr. Dan held her and she promply cushed (that's alpaca lingo for laid down) and wouldn't stand up for anything! She made noises I had never heard before! I got down on my hands and knees, found that spot and got her!

Aha!! Next was Flo and I did unfortunately stick her and get a little blood. Hamilton went very smoothly. I feel confident that I could do it again next month! Dr. Dan is a patient teacher and he'll be back when our cria's arrive if not before. He has a real fondness for alpacas and told us about working with them and unconciously humming along with them.

As a bonus, he showed me how to express the anal glands of our pug, Minnie! Have you ever seen that commercial with the dog dragging his butt on the carpet? Minnie goes in circles! Now I know how to help her, thanks to latex gloves and a little lubricant! She now has a skip in her step!! What will we be doing next!!



When I went out this morning, I found my alpacas waiting for me at the gate and when I approached, they slowly moved, but not far. They actually hung around while I did my duties. This afternoon, they stayed in the barn with me and ate. We are making progress!
Lots of great photos!