Our repair job on Aura Lea's nose was not successful. It looked great for a few days, then the flap opened up again. Considering all the things an alpaca touches with its nose and split lips, this was hardly surprising. The glue we had used works well on small shearing cuts (my husband closes shaving cuts with it) but had not been a good choice for this application. Dr. Edson— one of the few large animal veterinarians in the area—stitched up the tiny wound, and it has healed beautifully.
Those of us in our sixties and seventies sometimes joke about the tender age of some of our veterinarians.
"I have sweaters older than Dr. Edson," one of my friends laughed.
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Of course, we truly love and appreciate all the men and women—young or old—who have chosen this tough and demanding profession. We trust their judgement and are relieved to be able to count on their expertise in an emergency.
Naturally, I'd rather not see any veterinarian on my farm unless it's a social visit. Profits on a small farm quickly disappear if there are many invoices from a veterinarian in any given year.
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Like most livestock breeders, I give routine vaccinations, deworm my animals, and treat minor problems. I work very hard to prevent health problems by using sensible care protocols. With live animals, total control is not possible.
Aura Lea cannot talk—at least not in human terms—so I'll never know where and how she ripped her nose leather. Thank God for Dr. Edson, even if he is younger than half my wardrobe.
To contact Ingrid, visit www.stormwindalpacas.com.
