TheHumanVet Ltd

31/10/2024

Mighty proud of this young lady .hopkins07
Amber came to Ferry Farm as part of an Educational Visit we host. She got really stuck in and showed a real aptitude for farming sheep ( it’s not for everyone!!) despite no previous experience.
She subsequently came back to help us on the farm with routine tasks and was an integral part of the lambing team this year. The first lamb she delivered was one destined for meat (we only keep our pedigree lambs as replacements). The distictive features of the lamb meant it soon became known as Blackberry. Amber has vaccinated, wormed, weighed and followed BlackBerry’s journey all the way to the abattoir, and today to the butchers, where Chris Rounsevell kindly took the time to teach Amber to butcher a lamb so she was able to do her own…
I appreciate that not everyone could do that and I have the upmost admiration that Amber has and is now going to enjoy the product. This is farming and how fantastic to have the opportunity to do ‘farm to fork’. So many skills and life lessons learnt in the process. I wish more of our youngsters could experience this and really understand what is means to be a shepherdess.

18/10/2024

14/09/2024

Thank you to everyone who has sent cards, presents and well wishes for Chloe. Matt and I have been overwhelmed! They are so thoughtful and very much appreciated 💕

09/09/2024

BLUETONGUE BTV3

I expect many of you may have watched the Bluetongue webinar last week from APHA.

A reminder of the clinical signs in cattle and sheep include ulceration in the mouth, fever, depression, salivation, lameness, conjunctivitis, nasal discharge, reddening/swelling of the face, abortion. They did not report clinical findings in camelids. However, I would be on the lookout for any of these possible clinical signs. Colleagues in Europe have experienced some deaths in alpacas, but mostly they are showing fever for a few days that resolves, and possibly some respiratory signs. Abortion or pregnancy losses may also be possible but these have not been reported yet in their populations.

Currently the restricted zone for animal movements is confined to Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex with a temporary control zone in East Yorkshire. You can check the interactive map here: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=514ec88edec74575958d860f0196d2ea

During the webinar, it was confirmed that emergency legislation will allow the use of 3 BTV-3 vaccines in the UK, initially only in the restricted zones although they mentioned that you may be able to request permission to use them elsewhere if you have sufficient justification. These will not prevent infection or top animals from being infectious, but may reduce the level of the clinical signs seen. Camelids are permitted to be vaccinated. Having looked at the 3 vaccines, the Boehringer Ingelheim one Bultavo-3 looks to be the most promising. My reasons for this are:
- The dose for sheep and cattle is only 1ml (and is the same, so you don't have to choose which dose to use: compares to 2ml or 4ml doses for the other 2 vaccines)
- The product may come in 10ml bottles (the smallest of the available vaccines, although note that vaccine may not be produced or imported in these small bottles - so may not be available)
- Colleagues in Europe have hinted at being better (but I haven't seen any evidence of this!)

If you are looking to vaccinate, I would suggest using a 2 dose primary course based on my research from the BTV8 vaccines in 2008 which agrees with other studies as this showed improved antibody responses.

Regardless of choice, the vaccine bottles must be used within 10 hours of opening. In addition, the vaccines have not been tested in camelids, and are used completely off-label. Any decision to use vaccine must be based on discussion with your veterinarian and they will need to order the vaccine for you. A permit is required to use the vaccine.

PHOTO BELOW IS A SCREENSHOT FROM THE APHA PRESENTATION

27/08/2024

Happy international dog day 🐾

08/08/2024

Proud to support British farming.
To work, live, educate and be part of this community of wonderful people, who work tirelessly to bring food to our tables is a real privilege.

Next time you pick up a bottle of milk, loaf of bread, joint of meat, consider the time, money, love and stress (usually weather related) that has gone into delivering that so easily for you. Farmers are heros and it takes a team.

02/06/2024

A fabulous day in Dartmoor alpaca trekking as part of mums birthday present!! So lovely to spend time with these inquisitive animals without being their vet and on the count down to my maternity leave - thank you Joker for being such a gent 🦙 and for Helen for making this a great experience for us

01/05/2024

I recently did a birthing refresher for the Cornwall Camelid Association ahead of the unpacking season. We discussed the use of glucose e***as in lethargic, hypothermic cria. The process of giving the e***a is demonstrated in this video at Mullacott Alpacas, and you can see how great the response can be!

Why a glucose e***a?

1. Cria have naturally high glucose levels compared to other species so we need to take care when supplementing - an e***a will provide energy that can be used during the warming process that reduces the risk of seizing, without elevating blood levels beyond safe levels.

2. The warm water aids as another means to warm the body and support recovery. It also acts as a ’shock therapy’ to wake the cria.

3. Any liquid given orally will initiate the sloughing of special cells in the gut. These are present in newborns to uptake antibodies from the colostrum. The optimal period for uptake of these antibodies is in the 1st 6 hours of life so we need to reserve that first feed for the quality colostrum - these weaker cria will often need longer to gain their strength and suck reflex so we want to maximise this time.

4. It’s easy to do! A rubber stomach tube for lambs works great. Make sure you label this as your e***a equipment!!

5. It’s cheap. Powdered or liquid glucose mixed 50:50 with warm water given at 10-20ml is all you need. A lot of the solution will come back out which is fine.

One of my clients who has been using this for a few years refers to it as ‘the Billy b*****s’!! I use it in our lambs too and have great success. So if you have a weaker cria, give it a go!

21/04/2024

Thank you to the Sunny South East Alpaca Group in Ireland, for inviting me to run a vet and owner workshop over the past couple of days - it’s been fantastic to see familiar faces and meet new ones and I look forward to hearing of your experiences. Such a beautiful location - and the name lived up to expectations as the sun even shone!! Thank you for hosting 🦙 not many photos as pleased to continue the interactive, hands-on learning.

16/04/2024

The play doh is out, which can only mean one thing > there is an upcoming workshop!!

Excited to be off to Ireland on Thursday to present a camelid vet workshop on Friday and owners workshop on Saturday.

Thank you for inviting me and for organising and hosting.

Really looking forward to seeing everyone 🦙

28/03/2024

Over half way and the barn is thinning out! Maternity ward is almost full as don’t have the heart to turn out in this weather! Very grateful for the team of support we have this year x

10/03/2024

To all the mums that are, have been, will be and would love to be. In whatever form you come, Happy Mothers Day x

04/03/2024

One In - One Out for the Alpaca Plasma Blood Drive this morning 🩸for
Thank you to those that braved the weather to get to us. The full bags of blood are currently in transit to Loughborough (thank you Charlotte for detouring on your holiday!) to be processed into sterile plasma. These will be transported back to us next week for safe storage, and transfused into cria in need of an immunity boost over the next 5 years.

14/02/2024

…Joker continued.

Lots of crusts and cheesy pus removed initially. Swabs were taken throughout the procedure so that we can check the sensitivity of the bugs present to different antibiotics if there is a reoccurance. This avoids unnecessary use of antibiotics and aims to target the infection quickly.
As it happens, the more I debrided, the clearer the capsule of the abscess became, so much so the entire lower section could be removed. The last image shows how thick the capsule is that the body has created to wall off the infection. The pus is essentially dead white blood cells that have been sent to the location to fight. Clever stuff!
There was a small track that is likely to respond to the tooth root identified previously on X-ray but as nearly closed, we will monitor closely and keep the area clean.

14/02/2024

Some of you may remember this lovely grey face (not mine!!!) from a couple of years ago when Joker came to Castle Vets Farm for some X-rays and debridement of a tooth root abscess. More recently ‘Jo-Jo’ developed a mass in the same area which responded well to anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. On Monday I visited him to check progress and was able to remove the lump under sedation and pleased to say he’s back with his herd mates and enjoying his treats again. I will post some images of the gory procedure kindly captured by Helen Lydford Gorge Alpacas ‘for my collection’ - it’s a delightful one!!

05/12/2023

I will be away at the 2023 Camelid Congress in Vienna from 6th - 11th December but will be available on email; [email protected]

Looking forward to the great line-up and catching up with alpaca-enthusiasts from around the world!

27/11/2023

I had the best lunch break today I was asked by Trenance Farm to talk to a group of KS2 children from Primary school. They are learning about digestion and their knowledge was amazing! So, with the aid of some real-life dissected parts, we explored the different compartments of the cows stomach and how their digestion compares to us. We then went and met some actual cows and felt the rumen (washing machine!) turning over. Can’t beat hands on learning 🥰

22/10/2023

My 10th Cornwall Camelid Association (CCA) Vet Day did not disappoint. A full house and a beautiful setting at Carpalla Alpacas. Thank you Nigel and Margaret for opening your farm and hosting and to everyone for your participation.

The group had also commissioned a drawing of our spaniel, Alba, as a wedding present - totally overwhelmed and very grateful for such a thoughtful gift - thank you (your very talented Margaret!) x

20/10/2023

After an amazing break to say ‘I do’ (thank you for all the well wishes), I’m excited to be back and all packed ready for the Cornwall Camelid Association Vet Day tomorrow.

This will be my 10th annual vet day for the group so we will be exploring how the veterinary approach to camelids has changed in this time, with case stories, current guidelines and of course a practical aspect. Can you guess what’s in the box?!

13/10/2023

Our only fly strike - in October 😱 what’s going on!

I’m sharing this as a caution to keep monitoring your stock closely -

I noticed this ewe lamb this morning with a dark patch on her wool and the tell tell tremble and wool hanging out of the mouth where she’s been nibbling. Yesterday there was no indication of anything wrong.

On closer inspection I couldn’t see any maggots but the skin is very raw. She’s had pain relief and antibiotics and covered with fly treatment again.

This wet, warm weather means the strike period has been extended but more than likely any preventative treatment worn off so BE VIGILANT!

Very grateful to Tess being a top sheep dog this morning as my performance was definitely not on top form having been wine tasting last night 🥴 quickest way to cure a hangover!!

07/10/2023

Cornwall Camelid Association Vet Day 2023
COMING SOON - Sat 21st Oct.

Sometimes it is really obvious when you need a vet, sometimes it’s because you are having a routine visit but sometimes, the stoic nature of alpacas can make it difficult to make a decision to call your vet. At this years vet day, we will review my most to least common visits, how they’ve changed over the years and the reasons behind this. There will be case studies, group activities and of course some hands on time with some alpacas.

These courses are designed for everyone - from those who are new owners, or considering keeping camelids to the very experienced - we are all still learning! We do also have vet students attend that have an interest in this field.

To find out more visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/1415851615320491/permalink/3504108053161493/