STRESSED OUT? YOU’RE NOT ALONE… AND NEITHER ARE THE ALPACAS & LLAMAS!

By Cathy Spalding
www.gentlespiritllamas.com

Page 3

Sources of stress for alpacas and llamas are varied. Varied, too, is the individual behavioral response expressed as the result of a particular stress. Acute stress can occur out of situations such as the birth, illness or death of a herd mate, stud testing of females, performing an in-the-field necropsy, travel, veterinary and herd care tasks, training, shearing, weaning, shows, thunder storms and extreme weather changes.

                      Notice the facial tension
          and taut lip displayed by this llama

Can we eliminate stress in the lives of our alpacas and llamas? It would not seem any more possible to do that for them than it seems to be to eliminate it within our own lives. It is, however, important to recognize the possibility of stress in any given instance. We can then do our best to mitigate it. There are a number of behavioral cues displayed by alpacas and llamas indicating they are feeling stress. The most easily observed are excessive humming, irregular breathing, tense muscle wrinkles about the face and self imposed isolation from the herd. Less recognized cues include sweating, clamped tail, stomping feet, grinding teeth, burping, holding the neck very stiff and tight, drooling, standing out of balance and a tight or drooping lip. As do humans, alpacas and llamas differ from individual to individual in their ability to manage stress. It is important to consider each individual personality. As examples, some alpacas truly seem to enjoy the show environment while others appear unable to adapt no matter how many times they do it. Not all llamas enjoy packing or have the personality to serve as a guardian/sentinel for other animals. Recognizing and understanding the behavioral cues expressed by our alpacas and llamas is essential information to our ability to mitigate and maximize stress in their environment. If we recognize it, we can act upon it. It is a critical piece of the whole in our overall herd management for the long-term health of our animals.

A statement by Dr. Hans Selye gave me pause: “Stress leaves an indelible scar, and the organism pays for its survival after a stressful situation by becoming a little older.” After some thought, I feel to add “and perhaps a little wiser, too.”

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“Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.”

Dr. Hans Selye (1907-1982)

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