Читать книгу Medicine and Surgery of Camelids - Группа авторов - Страница 28

1 Safety in numbers: Camelids need other camelids to feel safe. Even if you have only one patient, it is unwise to work with one animal alone. Pack a catch pen with five to six other animals to take up room; this slows their movement and provides a feeling of safety. For every pen, there is an ideal number of animals. Too few animals, and it doesn't work as well (you can make the pen smaller or add more animals), too many animals and they will become agitated. Ideally, there should be about 20–25% free space in a stall (Figure 2.6). If the animals are smaller, more will be required; if the animals are larger or in full fleece fewer animals will be required. This technique works with both llamas and alpacas. The animals kick less and move less, which makes handling easier. If one animal spits or is very volatile, work with that animal first and release him from the pen. This is a great arrangement for physical exams, giving injections, or administering oral dewormer. Even if you work in a chute or mini‐catch pen (described below), the presence of other animals can make the animals feel much safer and less likely to panic. When working with mothers, keep the baby with her if possible. She will stay calmer if she can be with her baby.Figure 2.6 This photo shows a nicely packed pen. The animals have room to move but not enough to move too quickly. Handling South American camelids in packed pens makes handling without restraint easier because the animals feel safer in groups.

2 Think like a camelid: Let the animal have a chance to think. Wait a bit when trying to drive an animal into a holding pen, or loading an animal onto a trailer, usually, it only takes one animal that will move or load; the others are likely to follow. Camelids are very resistant to being split up. If you are letting each animal go after a procedure, the last one will panic when left alone, and it will be difficult to control if the rest of the herd has wandered back to the field. It is better to keep a few or even the whole herd nearby in a holding pen until the whole group is finished. Do not create anxiety in the process of getting the animals to the catch pen or other container. Laneways leading to a small paddock adjacent to the handling area keeps things calm. Even untrained animals can be herded into a trailer if kept calm and done as a group (remember they are worked more easily as a group) (Figure 2.7).Figure 2.7 Drawing illustrating a setup for corralling animals calmly into a handling area. Light weight or temporary fence is adequate for herding provided the animals have a place to go and it is not being used to trap animals.

3 Halter fit is important: If you are using a halter, it is vital that it fits properly. There is NOTHING more important than this! The dynamics of halter fit are discussed in detail later. It is IMPERATIVE that the halter fits well up on the nasal bone and is adjusted so that it will not slip down. Halters used for restraint that slip rostrally ending up on cartilage will compromise the airway causing panic and potentially respiratory distress. An experience like this can result in an extraordinarily difficult animal to handle for the rest of its life.

4 Consider the handling facilities: The author suggests beginning with a catch pen and altering the situation from there. Camelids are wiry but they do not require facilities as robust as cows and horses. Lightweight panels are sufficient, but they should be attached to a barn wall or a post driven into the ground if they are to be safe for handling.Your handling area should be well‐lit and located in a well‐ventilated area. Animals do not like to enter blind alleys or find themselves in dark corners.First impressions are especially important. Animals will be much more cooperative and think better of your handling area if they can experience it first without a procedure. If you ask the owner to feed the animals in the catch pen or handling area a few times before you arrive, the animals will be more relaxed and more cooperative.

5 Avoid the spit without muzzling: Covering the mouth, nose, or head is a common handling technique to protect the handler from spit, however, there are negative implications to this technique. Confined animals act out in part because they feel closed in without an escape route. Under these circumstances, restricting the airway is counterproductive. The cartilage at the end of the nose is very delicate and can be compressed easily even by a light towel or rag. Camelids are semi‐obligate nasal breathers, and if the nose is partially occluded, this may compromise airflow and cause an animal to panic. This may even backfire, as the chance of aspiration of stomach contents is increased when the mouth is covered. Coveralls, safety glasses, directing the head in a different direction, and the occasional shower after the procedure may be necessary in the case of a spitting camelid.

6 Avoid blindfolding: Some veterinarians have described having some success with covering the eyes, and there is a mask sold for this purpose. The author has found masking or blindfolding to be undesirable and unnecessary. The act of blindfolding an animal often creates more drama than the procedure itself, and it can detrimentally affect future haltering or handling. Often techniques work the first time because the animal is surprised and does not know how to react. The second or third time the animal will recognize the antecedent and will develop behaviors that are more problematic than the original behavior that prompted use of the blindfold.