Testing for Parasites

Worming alpacas is advisable but is not essential. We worm our alpacas using Ivomec every 6 months and every cria when it is weaned. The alternative to this is to take faecal samples to your vet for testing to see if your alpacas actually have worms.

To get your alpacas tested it's first advisable to ring your vet to make sure they can do the testing. The alpacas to get samples from are your crias from 6 months old to 2 years old, and also the skinny alpacas that may be at the bottom of the pecking order.

To collect the sample, have yourself a few clean plastic freezer bags or zip tight bags, and follow the candidate until it goes to the poo pile. After it's done, collect the poo and try and get some from the next candidate. It's a good idea to get a minimum of 6 different sample and if possible maybe from different paddocks, males, older alpacas, etc. A broad sample is best.

Alpaca Maintenance - More information on alpacas

Putting weight on thin alpacas
Fencing for alpacas
How to determine signs of a sick alpaca
Basic first aid kit for alpacas
Alpaca body temperatures
Can cold and wet weather affect alpacas?
Making sense of the alpaca fibre analysis
Rye grass staggers
Taking the perfect alpaca photograph
Facial abscess
Berserk male syndrome
Vitamin D
Weaning
Constipated crias
Preparation for Winter
Keeping alpaca records
Alpacas need head-space
Testing for parasites
Birthing help
Cutting Toenails
A Working Dog's Guide to Alpacas
Paddock Maintenance
Alpacas for Pets
Alpacas as Sheep Guardians