How to Groom a Pet Llama

By eHow Pets Editor

Rate: (5 Ratings)

Properly grooming a pet llama is extremely important to its overall health and well-being, especially since its fur is prone to matting, and overly-long toenails can cause infections. While owners are divided over whether you should wash llamas, or even merely brush them, either method is mandatory for maintaining a healthy coat and preserving the natural beauty of the animal. Read on to learn more.

Flag Article

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Toenail clippers
Brush
Shampoo
Electric shears or shearing scissors
Creme rinse

Groom Your Pet Llama

Step1

Choose the proper brush to groom your pet llama. Since a llama's coat can be easily matted, and since llama skin is extremely sensitive, you should avoid a metal-toothed brush which can upset the animal. Find a brush with rubber teeth that are spaced far apart to prevent yanking and pulling motions when you hit a tangle.

Step2

Decide whether you want to make bathing a part of your grooming routine. Many people are against shampooing a llama, since it can affect the natural state of the coat. Others, however, greatly appreciate the fact that using an appropriate animal shampoo, coupled with a creme rinse, can significantly reduce the time spent on grooming your pet llama.

Step3

Consider shearing the llama's coat, using either shearing scissors or electric shears, on a regular basis. Not only can the wool be used to make clothing, but shearing a llama's coat can help to keep it cooler during warm summer months. Avoid shearing the llama if the coat is not dry, and resist the urge to shear down to the skin, which can cause excessive irritation.

Step4

Clip the toenails of your llama three to four times a year, unless they have access to rocky ground or areas of ashpalt in their pen or corral. Llamas can be very protective of their feet, so take the time to move slowly, gently picking up one leg at a time. Use toenail clippers that have been specially designed for use on llamas to make the job much easier.

Step5

Consult such online resources as websites for Llamapaedia and LlamaWeb for more specific tips on how to properly groom your pet llama (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

By keeping a pregnant llama closely sheared, you can properly assess the progress of the gestation.
Take care not to pull the llama's legs too far out to the side when grooming, as this is extremely uncomfortable and may cause him to kick.