» Llama Care

Dollie Llama is Just Not Acting Like Herself Lately

Annette Johnston — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:09:13 +0000

Dollie has been very cranky, and hasn’t wanted to go for walks with me and the dogs. I examined her carefully, and trimmed her toenails. I found some inflamed and raw skin on her underside between her front legs, and thought she might have some type of skin infection. I had the vet out to see what could be done. Poor Dollie had to have a shot of antibiotics (with cortisone), plus her regular CD&T shot. I have to give her antibiotic pills for the next couple of weeks to help clear up the problem. She may have gotten frostbite from the frozen ground or just the wet snow from her lying in the kush position to eat her hay. She seems a little better now, but still not back to her normal sweet self. The skin problem must be painful for her. This has been a rough winter.

Happy Holidays from Frolic Farm

Annette Johnston — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:51:08 +0000

Brrr. It’s mighty cold here at Frolic Farm, in Michigan. We’ve had several snowstorms this past week, and another one today. The weather has been near 0 at night. Dollie Llama, Robin the horse, and Hershey the mini donkey are fine, with their thick winter coats. I turn them outside into the pasture unless there is a blizzard. They have a run in shed to stay out of the wind. They do enjoy being in their warm and dry stalls at night, though.

Dollie, Robin, and Hershey have hung their Christmas stockings on their stall doors, all ready for Santa to fill them. They have a big wreath on the barn door.

Best wishes for a happy and safe holiday season!

Tips on Caring for a Llama, DeWorming

Annette Johnston — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 00:36:25 +0000

I have learned a few things in the last 5 years I have owned Dollie Llama, and thought I would share them with you. A disclaimer: always consult with your veterinarian first.

Let’s talk about deworming your llama. You do need to deworm your llama at least every 3 months, using a rotation of wormer products. It is not advisable to use the same type of wormer every time, due to resistance developing. The vet can administer a shot of Dectomax once a year. This is needed, due to the Meningeal worm. I use several types of tube wormers for the other 3 wormings; Panacur, Ivermectin, Strongid, and Anthelcide. Dollie can be quite a handful when she even sees the tube coming her way. I get quite a workout, trying to hold Dollie and administer the tube of worm medicine. (Having a helper would make it easier) Do wear sturdy shoes, and expect to get dirty. It’s one way to work up a sweat, even during a Michigan winter. Recently, I found an Ivermectin powder that can be poured on the feed, so that is much easier. For the others, I use about half of a tube, with Dollie weighing about 400 lbs.

You can add your comments below. Share your worming ideas!