Alpaca Blood Transfusion

Disclaimer: If your alpaca is unwell, you should seek professional veterinary treatment. We are not trained vets and are only sharing our personal experiences.

Wethers are worth their weight in gold: Alpaca Blood Transfusions

It is not often talked about, but when you have a sick alpaca on death’s door a blood transfusion may just save your alpaca’s life.

Recently two of our alpacas have required blood transfusions and we thought it was worthwhile sharing our experience. Please note we are not vets and anything in regards to blood transfusions should be done by and in consultation with a veterinarian.

Symptoms on farm:

Alpaca One: High worm burden, lethargic, poor appetite, signs of weight loss, and pale membrane (famacha chart score of pink-white/dangerous)

Alpaca Two: Initial assessment lethargic, no appetite at all, reluctance to stand and movements in general reducing, and pale membrane (Famacha chart score of white/fatal). Worm burden confirmed afterwards.

On both these occasions we were of the view that they needed a blood transfusion which was confirmed by the Vet as described below.

Assessment by the Vet - Pre Blood Transfusion

On arrival, both the donor and recipient alpacas received a PCV test to assess their levels. With the results, they were compared to what the “Glovebox Guide to Alpacas (GGtA) by Dr Jane Vaughan” says should be a normal level (GGtA pg. 114; GGtA point 3 on pg.86). Based upon this comparison it was determined that a blood transfusion was necessary for the recipient alpaca. The donor PCV was checked to ensure that they were healthy enough to give the donation including that they had NO indicators of an infection.

We note the alpaca twos blood sample was “like water” and was under the recommend level zone referred to by Dr Vaughan.

Please note: A blood cross match does NOT need to occur for the first blood transfusion that a recipient alpaca has but MUST be completed on each subsequent blood transfusion to be received by the recipient alpaca. See Pg 85 of GGtA.

The blood transfusion (Pg 85 of GGtA)

In order to take blood from the donor and then give it to the recipient, a cannula needed to be inserted on the right side of the both alpaca's necks (GGtA pg. 81). If the skin is too thick for the cannula needle to be inserted on its own into the vein, the vet may need to do a “cut down” method with a scapula in order to insert the cannula needle. We note this was the case with alpaca one.

We note if you need to take a blood sample, the vein in the tail is quick to access in emergencies.

Cannula sight prepped

Cannula inserted

In order to work out how much blood the alpaca recipient required the following formula was used:

Volume of Transfusion (L) = Volume of Distribution of Blood × Body Weight (kg) × (Desired PCV (%) - Recipient PCV (%)) divided by Donor PCV (%)

Based on this a pint or single bag of blood was taken from the donor. No more than 1 litre of blood should be taken from the donor alpaca.

Blood coming from donor into blood bag

Once the blood was taken this was then given directly to the recipient alpaca via the cannula. The speed/rate for the transfusion is as per Dr Vuaghan’s book (GGtA pg. 86).

Blood transfusion to the animal

After the blood transfusion, a PCV test was completed and again a week later. The aim was to double the blood count seen on the initial PCV of the recipient alpaca.

Observations of Alpacas after blood transfusion:

Alpaca One was instantly more alert after receiving a blood transfusion and had a moderate appetite.

Alpaca Two was slower to recover but after half an hour was willinging to stand up, took some mouthfuls of food and took a long pee.

After care:

Alpaca One and Two received

a course of Enegemycin.
10 to 20 mls of Ironcyclen orally twice daily until eyelid colour returned to acceptable levels as per the FAMACHA score card
B1 injections given as needed to increase appetite
Hydratlights put in drinking water
Confined until Famacha Chart score got to Red-Pink/Acceptable rate

Donor alpaca received:

10 to 20 mls of Ironcyclen orally given daily for at least a week
Hydratlights put in drinking water
Confined for a minimum of 3 days to ensure no side effects from the transfusion

Important note about Donor’s: Donor alpacas should not give another blood donation for at least a month in order for the red blood cells to be sufficiently replenished.

Alpaca One recovered within a week of the blood transfusion and was returned to the paddock after a week of confinement. Alpaca Two took a month to recover; after two weeks the pen size was increased before returning to the paddock after four weeks.

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