9 Things I Learned from My Premature Cria
- If a cria is hypothermic (low temperature), her organs will not get the appropriate amount of blood flow and may become damaged. The longer the temp is down, the worse the damage can be.
- Having oxygen on hand can save the cria’s life. Consider asking your vet to help get you a small oxygen tank for your farm to have in an emergency. I had to take her to the vet’s office for one.
- If a cria pees and it is a HUGE pool of blood – this probably means the kidneys are failing.
- Have lama plasma around no matter what. You cannot count on Triple J Farms to get it to you in time. Too many things can go wrong & they don’t ship it out every day.
- If you can’t get a cria’s temperature up with a hair dryer and heating pads, try putting the cria in a garbage bag (or two) and immersing her in a bathtub full of very warm water. (Who knew I would need this in August?)
- When a cria is born in the summer it can become hypothermic quickly if born in front of the fan. The dam has been sitting in front of the fan to stay cool. A wet cria and a fan is NOT a good combination.
- If a dam has to fight heat stress (even sub-clinical) her body doesn’t give the proper blood flow to the uterus, and the mechanism that tells her when to go into labor goes haywire.
- There is a lot of support out there. The alpaca community is a a very friendly and supportive one. Reach out and you will find that a lot of people care and are there for you. Twitter & Facebook friends offered me lots of love & comfort.
- Losing a premature cria after working on her for days is painful. However the joy that goes into helping her and caring for her, and the special moments between the pair of you is worth it.
“Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”
~Alfred Lord Tennyson
September 6th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
I am so sorry for your loss, I know you loved her dearly.
September 6th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I’m sorry to hear of the loss of this little one. You gave her great care. The quote works well with this experience. Thank you for sharing.
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September 6th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Wow, what a lot of vital information, that one can’t see just anywhere. I’ll probably never have alpacas, much less crias, but found the information really interesting, if sad. What you have learned from the experience will surely help a lot of other cria preemies make it! Thank you for sharing what you’ve learned with the rest of us. Everything I learn about alpacas helps be appreciate the care and cooperation that goes into the fiber I love to work with. best wishes to you.
September 6th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
One thing you have omitted is what we learned from you. Thank you for sharing your struggle and sorrow as you tried to save this cria who was too little to survive from the very beginning. None of us was willing to just let her go.
You were there and fought valiantly. My hat is off to you; some would have quit sooner. Not you. I feel I have shared in an important chapter of your life and appreciate being included. I have not suffered through the loss of an alpaca, not yet. I will and I will buck up and do my best because I have seen it done. I will not suffer less, but I will not suffer alone. Thank you.
September 6th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
That’s a very sweet picture. I hope it gives you some comfort. That, and knowing you did all you could. Maybe some of what you have shared will help others so they won’t have to suffer the same loss. I dwell in the suburbs but I live my hobby farm dreams through you (even though yours is not a hobby).
September 6th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
This has me teary eyed. I wonder if you had the oxygen & plasma, etc. if she still would have been able to be saved? She looks so weak in that photo. But I know that you’ll make arrangements to have even more stuff available for next birthing season to try & prevent it. I’m still very sorry for your loss.
September 6th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
I’m sorry about your loss.
September 6th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Sorry to hear you lost her Katy.
We just went through a premature, hypothermic boy in Ohio summer. Its hard to believe it can happen, but we have seen it before also. Ours fortunately lived, but very delayed in his progress the first 6 days.
Great information for breeders.
Don
September 7th, 2009 at 10:04 am
I am sorry for your loss!
September 7th, 2009 at 11:37 am
http://www.alpacafarmgirl.com – da best. Keep it going!
Thank you
Zoran
September 7th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
I am so sorry! I am sure this post helps others in a situation like that.
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September 8th, 2009 at 7:27 am
Omg…my heart is hurting so for you….you did all you could and no one can ask more than that .
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