Patchesnposies
Chillin' with the herd
The weird thing is it doesn't seem like he is sick at all. His eyes are bright, he is ruminating, he still runs off the chickens if they mess with his hay....he just won't get up. He stays in a "kush" position.
4 or 5 days ago, I noticed that every time I looked over at his pen, he was laying down. Which is not like him, as he usually has to know EVERYTHING that is going on. This llama is the most hyper-vigilant animal I ever known.
A little background on him. Cisco is a gelded mal, llama. He was shorn and had his feet trimmed at the beginning of summer. His previous owners are moving and due to financial difficulties are not able to take all of their animals with them. He was a freebie for them, when they bought another llama, so they would have two. They have since bought another llama and have a breeding pair, hence, Cisco is the one to be let behind.
We offered to take him even if it was just to find a good home for him, which isn't always easy to do on short notice. We didn't want to see him go to the auction house. We figured it might take us some time but we could find a home for him if he didn't get along with our animals. And he has done really well in with the goats.
Cisco is a nice enough boy, for a llama, I guess. He is not uber-friendly or anything. In fact, he will usually go to other end of his pen if I go in. And watch me warily. I have never seen anything aggressive from him, but that doesn't mean I think he couldn't be if he needed to.
He is very head shy. However, since he has gone down I can pet his neck and under his chin and he tolerates it.
He does seem to get around as his laying down spot has moved incrementally (3-4 feet) in any direction.
My husband tried to get him up, but you know how that goes with a llama! He eventually fell over on his side and flailed a bit with all four feet (no sign of paralysis or a wound).
I see no sign of infection in his eyes or nose. He is pooping in that kush position and it appears normal.
If anyone with llama expertise could help me understand what may be going on I would appreciate it so much.
I am stumped!
4 or 5 days ago, I noticed that every time I looked over at his pen, he was laying down. Which is not like him, as he usually has to know EVERYTHING that is going on. This llama is the most hyper-vigilant animal I ever known.
A little background on him. Cisco is a gelded mal, llama. He was shorn and had his feet trimmed at the beginning of summer. His previous owners are moving and due to financial difficulties are not able to take all of their animals with them. He was a freebie for them, when they bought another llama, so they would have two. They have since bought another llama and have a breeding pair, hence, Cisco is the one to be let behind.
We offered to take him even if it was just to find a good home for him, which isn't always easy to do on short notice. We didn't want to see him go to the auction house. We figured it might take us some time but we could find a home for him if he didn't get along with our animals. And he has done really well in with the goats.
Cisco is a nice enough boy, for a llama, I guess. He is not uber-friendly or anything. In fact, he will usually go to other end of his pen if I go in. And watch me warily. I have never seen anything aggressive from him, but that doesn't mean I think he couldn't be if he needed to.
He is very head shy. However, since he has gone down I can pet his neck and under his chin and he tolerates it.
He does seem to get around as his laying down spot has moved incrementally (3-4 feet) in any direction.
My husband tried to get him up, but you know how that goes with a llama! He eventually fell over on his side and flailed a bit with all four feet (no sign of paralysis or a wound).
I see no sign of infection in his eyes or nose. He is pooping in that kush position and it appears normal.
If anyone with llama expertise could help me understand what may be going on I would appreciate it so much.
I am stumped!