How to Treat Anemia in Alpacas Without a Blood Transfusion

Approximately 80,000 alpacas are registered in the United States. Alpacas make fun pets because they have gentle demeanors, but they are bred primarily for their fibers. Anemia, a condition caused by unusually low iron levels, is a common problem in alpacas. Luckily, blood transfusions for anemia are rarely necessary, and most alpacas can be treated without any type of surgical procedure or intervention.

Things You'll Need

• Red cell
• Iron supplement

Instructions

1. Take your alpaca to the veterinarian and have a blood panel done to rule out the possibility of a secondary infection. An anemic alpaca may also suffer from an infection called Mycoplasma Haemolama, which your veterinarian will need to treat as soon as possible.

2. Give your alpaca Red Cell, a highly effective vitamin and mineral supplement. Red Cell is a liquid medication that was created primarily for horses (see Reference 2), but its high iron content makes it a good supplement for other anemic animals. You can purchase Red Cell at any feed store, or you can obtain it from your veterinarian.

3. Give your alpaca an iron supplement. Chase Tavern Farm suggests feeding alpacas a "weekly supplementation of Iron Dextran for the heavy duty Iron boost" (see Reference 1). Iron dextran is one of the most common medications for treating anemia in alpacas; a trained veterinarian can administer iron dextran by injecting it into an alpaca's muscle tissue.

References

• Chase Tavern Farm
• KY Horse
• Stars and Stripes Alpacas

Resources

• Alpaca Nation
• American Journal of Veterinary Research
• Iron Dextran