Internal Parasites in Llamas
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Routine health care
* * * Important * * *
No drugs are yet approved for use in llamas. ALL of the products mentioned below fall under what's known as extra-label use when they are used in llamas, meaning that it is illegal to use any of these products -- even the over-the-counter products -- in llamas except under the direct supervision or order of a licensed veterinarian. In practice, llama owners routinely administer such drugs on their own, but with the risk that an adverse reaction could occur, or that the product might be ineffective. In both cases, there is no legal recourse.
Internal parasite control
Improperly chosen dewormers can be as ineffective as not deworming at all. All dewormers are ineffective against several significant species of internal parasites. For example, if nematodiris spp. are infesting your llamas, ivermectin products will do little good. If strongyles are the problem, moxidectin is usually the better choice. Rotating or alternating deworming products throughout the year may be necessary to get all species, however, rotation for the sake of rotation (ie, without a plan) only accidentally and occasionally results in effective parasite control.
In addition, nearly all internal parasites have an active season and a dormant season, so you will need to deworm at the proper times of year. For example, if you deworm in January (in most areas), you just wasted your money and left your llamas without the protection they will need come spring -- in winter, llamas won't be picking up parasites from their pasture, and most adult parasites they had have done their damage and are probably (or will soon be) dead of old age and gone.
Please consult with your veterinarian to develop an appropriate, effective deworming schedule for your own llamas. He or she may (correctly) recommend doing fecals on at least some of your llamas, particularly if they are showing outward signs of infestation.
A very useful means of environmental fluke control is an adequate population of mature, foraging ducks. Ducks can't completely prevent fluke problems, but they can greatly reduce them by eating snails, which are an essential intermediate host for the liver fluke parasite.
Deer can carry unwelcome parasites into your pasture. In some areas of the county, those parasites can be lethal. Fencing out deer can be a challenge, but if you put up five- or six-foot fencing and leave deer corridors around the perimeters, you will find that most of the deer will stay out of your pastures most of the time.
Types of dewormers we have successfully used in llamas:
* * * Important * * *
Administration of any of the following drugs falls under the category of "extra-label use" and must be done only by or on the direct order of your veterinarian !
ivermectin -- available as Eqvalan, Zimecterin, Equimectrin (pastes); Ivomec (injectable and pour-on);
Generally considered to be effective against a wide range of parasite species and stages, and also generally considered safer due to paralytic action rather than toxic principles. Best choice for trichuria spp. (whipworms).
We use the oral paste form at the same rate as for horses, rounded up to the next 50 pounds.
Pour-ons have produced temporary neurological symptoms in llamas, and also are reported to be less effective against internal parasites; we do not use them for those reasons.
Injectable ivermectin does sting, and also carries a risk of clostridial infections, so we do not use the injectable form.
Realize that many llama owners continue to use pour-on and injectable forms for their own convenience and without assessing their efficacy.
moxidectin -- available as Quest (oral gel) and Cydectin (pour-on)
Effective against somewhat fewer parasite species than ivermectin products, but has a longer residual action against larval stages of strongyles. Like ivermectin, moxidectin is a paralytic rather than a toxin. Unfortunately, moxidectin is comparatively expensive.
We use the oral gel form at the same rate as for horses, rounded up to the nearest 50 pounds. We do not use the pour-on preparation for internal parasites because we (and others) have not had good results with other pour-ons.
We have seen reactions to the pour-on form in some llamas and have not been able to determine why some react and others do not. The affected llamas have obvious coordination impairment when backing up, turning to the side, and sometimes, kushing. The symptoms do abate in about a week.
albendazole -- available as Valbazen (liquid drench)
Effective against liver flukes (adults only!), tapeworms, and a fairly wide range of parasite species (including nematodiris spp.), all at the standard dose. Very economical if you can buy a bottle and share with quite a few friends before the expiration date (typically 6-8 months); expensive if you cannot.
Because albendazole does not affect immature flukes (which cause most of the damage to the liver), do not rely on it for fluke prevention or control.
We are dosing at the cattle rate (1 ml per 25 pounds of body weight)
The label warns against use in cattle during the first 45 days of pregnancy; there have been abortions, stillbirths, and birth defects associated with (although not absolutely proven to be caused by) the use of albendazole in llamas during the first 45 days of pregnancy. We do not use this product in the first four months of a llama's pregnancy.
clorsulon -- available as Curatrem (drench)
Effective against immature and adult liver flukes ONLY. Long shelf life (about 5 years), but very expensive and sometimes difficult to locate.
When used at the right time of year and at appropriate intervals (or every 28-30 days year-round in heavily infested pastures), clorsulon is an effective means of fluke control.
We are dosing at the cattle rate (0.37 ml per 10 pounds of body weight)
We use clorsulon in combination with fenbendazole (given a few days apart) for llamas in early pregnancy if the rest of the herd is receiving albendazole (Valbazen).
Rare individuals may experience a bellyache after receiving clorsulon.
* * * Note * * *
Clorsulon and ivermectin are also available in a combination injection as "Ivomec Plus." This form does not affect immature liver flukes (which cause most of the damage to the liver), so do not rely on it for fluke prevention or control.
fenbendazole -- available as Safeguard and Panacur (both pastes; Safeguard is also available as a drench, a pellet and a block)
Not quite as effective in some respects as ivermectin products, but does have superior performance against some species of parasites, particularly nematodiris spp. For tapeworms, the dose must be tripled to be effective; we prefer albendazole for tapes.
We use the oral paste form and dose at the horse rate.
The pellet form is difficult to chew and our llamas would eat it the first time, but usually refused it thereafter. The block form makes dosage rate impossible to control. We have not tried the drench.
We do not use any fenbendazole product in llamas under age one year, and avoid using fenbedazole in llamas under age two years. We have data that indicates fenbendazole may be responsible for temporary growth cessation in young llamas.
Fenbendazole does not appear to have any detrimental effects in llamas over two years, nor in pregnant llamas.
sulfadimethoxine -- available as Albon (injectable); also generic brands
highly effective against coccidia; most effective if the affected llamas can be moved to a "clean" pasture afterwards (or in mid-treatment) while their systems recover
dosage is the same as for cattle/calves
course of treatment lasts five days; the first day's dose is twice as high as days two through five
use only in llamas that have actually been diagnosed with coccidia
Notes about scheduling deworming and choosing dewormers
Purge dewormers are more effective when they are given twice in a season in order to get the parasites that were previously eggs and thus unaffected by the first dose. We usually deworm twice, about three weeks apart, in the spring and again in the fall.
If you and your veterinarian believe that your pasture harbors liver flukes, dose all llamas with a flukicide (albendazole followed by clorsulon, or clorsulon only) in 2 to 8 week intervals (consult with your veterinarian to select the best interval for your situation) during the vulnerable season (usually from the onset of warm weather).
If fecal exams reveal elevated levels of a specific parasite, have your veterinarian help you choose the best dewormer for that species and the most appropriate deworming interval for it's life cycle.
We weigh all llamas before administering most kinds of dewormers.
We have been finding that around age 3 months, crias' weight gain slows, but responds well to an initial deworming with ivermectin or moxidectin at that time.
Pyrantel pamoate (Strongid, also called Strongid P, available as a paste) is only effective in monogastric species (such as dogs, horses, and swine). Although it has been used without reported harm in llamas, it is not adequately effective as a dewormer because camelids (that includes llamas!) and ruminants deactivate the drug before it gets to where most of the parasites are. Pyrantel tartrate (Strongid C, a pelleted form to be fed every day) has reported efficacy against several parasite species when given to true ruminants, but we have not used it in our llamas, and so can't comment on it.
* * * Important * * *
If you have a llama with liver flukes, administration of a flukicide (albendazole or clorsulon) can result in severe illness and possibly death. Left untreated, liver flukes will eventually kill llamas. Yes, it's a Catch-22. Discuss the risks, alternatives, and necessary simultaneous supportive therapy with your veterinarian before administering flukicides.
* * * Important * * *
In areas where meningal worm is present, it is necessary to treat all llamas with an injectable ivermectin product every 28 days in order to kill the immature worms before they can reach the spinal cord, where they commonly cause paralysis and/or permanent nerve damage, and are very difficult to eradicate. Your veterinarian can tell you if "m-worm" is a concern in your area, and also help you formulate an effective program to prevent m-worm in your llamas.
Administering dewormers and topical parasitides
Paste and gel dewormers are best put well back in the mouth at the bottom of the area between the cheek and lower gum, not on the tongue. Most are formulated to be rather sticky, so even coughing and spitting llamas seldom "return" any of the product -- IF it was placed correctly.
Drenches (liquids) can be easily administered with a curved-tip infusion syringe (ask your veterinarian for a few). You will have to measure the dose separately because there are no marks on the infusion syringes. Tuck the entire tip in the corner of the llama's mouth (the syringe opening should then face the llama's throat). Hold the mouth shut and elevate the chin slightly if necessary to discourage a spitter or drooler. Wait until the llama swallows before letting go.
Pour-on formulations must be applied very carefully to be effective; this can be nearly impossible on ungroomed llamas. Take a pair of slicker brushes and brush open a deep part (to the skin) along the llama's spine. Apply the product to the skin. Brush the fiber back over the part (it is good practice to always discourage fiber parting along the spine).
Caution: pour-ons are less effective against internal parasites than oral and injectable forms. Also, some pour-ons can render fiber less desirable or even useless for a time, and they can also make a classic llama's coat bind up and painful to groom.
Caution: no pour-on product has been formulated for llamas, so they may absorb it more rapidly than cattle, which can in turn lead to temporary paralysis or paralysis-like reactions. Don't use pour-ons if you will be doing anything with the treated llamas afterwards or if you will not be around to monitor them.
Injectable formulations -- see information on giving injections, below
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