Question: Vitamin D and Selenium
I have become very confused re the above. I have owned alpacas for 2 years including a weanling, who is now 2 years 8 months, and at present have a weanling aged 7 months and a first time pregnant female.
Previously I have vaccinated all the alpacas with Lambivac/Heptovac and wormed them but not given them any vitamin /selenium injections. They have remained happy, healthy, with no skin or ricketts problems.
Wish to clarify whether the above injections are necessary in the Uk as I am reluctant to perform unnecessary invasive procedures on my alpacas but at the same time wish them to maintain optimum health and be proactive rather than reactive.
1) I feed year round coarse mix designed exclusively for alpacas and llamas with a unique mineral package, in addition to good quality hay and natural pasture of the area , in my case The Mendip Hills. Is there a need for injections?
2) If it is just vitamin D that is important
3) If necessary is it only cria/weanlings that require the injections.
Many thanks for your time and trouble, Best Wishes.
Answer:
We do not give selenium injections if we are feeding a selenium supplemented feed. Unfortunately, Vitamin D is more labile and does not pass mother's milk, so we are stuck supplementing crias with Vitamin D. I recommend Vitamin D by injection every 60 days or oral paste every 30 days during winter (Oct through April) at a dose of 1000 units/kg body weight.
David E Anderson, DVM, MS, DACVS