The British Veterinary Camelid Society

30/09/2024

Are you registered for the 2024 camelid conference? You have just over two weeks to secure your accommodation at our exclusive reduced rate.

RUN, DON'T WALK.

The website of the British Veterinary Camelid Society. For veterinary surgeons treating camelid patients.

30/09/2024

There are currently no confirmed cases of BTV3 in camelids in the UK, howevever if one were to be discovered, supportive care can be offered. There is limited evidence on how this is enacted in camelids, but this article on sheep can serve as a good start.

https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/inpr.429

For more clinical case management, our case discussion facebook group is open to BVCS members.

18/09/2024

Share Share Share!

Our BVCS conference is coming up in November, but we want to invite colleagues from all over to European South American Camelid Conference, which will be held in Cambridge in September 2025.

Please feel free to share this with your networks.

17/09/2024

Whether or not you decide to pre-order vaccine is a personal decision, and you can have a discussion with your private vet about the best course of action with your herd.

The BVCS has been hard at work looking at ways to guide veterinary conversations with as much clinical data as is available. We will continue to update as the situation develops.

17/09/2024

Some management advice to minimise the chance of spread of Bluetongue from subclinically infected animals.

12/09/2024

A little roundup of pregnancy diagnosis in livestock - featuring camelids!

https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-animal-021022-032214

05/09/2024

This week we are looking to understand how BTV3 has presented in animals in the Netherlands.

https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/vetr.4533

30/08/2024

Our 2024 conference is open for registration! Please head over to our website to register. Please note that accommodation rates will only be held until the 15th October so think fast, and make sure to book directly with the hotel.

https://www.camelidvets.org/pages/bvcs-conferences

29/08/2024

Are you up to date with your knowledge of causes of reproductive loss in camelid patients? Our latest research update is a review of both infectious and non infectious causes.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378432024001623

26/08/2024

Bluetongue Virus (BTV3) has been confirmed in a single sheep today in South Norfolk. As a result, a 20km Temporary Control Zone has been put in place. You can see if you are within this zone here: https://defra.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=514ec88edec74575958d860f0196d2ea

Advice remains the same as ever - please monitor your animals for signs of disease including facial swelling, drooling, reddening or crusting of the skin around the feet and face, and/or respiratory distress. Signs can differ in camelids compared to other species, so vigilance and reporting is key. If you suspect bluetongue please report it on 03000 200 301 in England, 03003 038 268 in Wales, or your local field services office in Scotland and 0300 200 7840 in NI, and follow updates here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bluetongue-information-and-guidance-for-livestock-keepers.

Not all sources will mention camelids directly, but they do remain susceptible. Our updates can be found here: https://www.camelidvets.org/articles/bluetongue-virus-update-2024

29/07/2024

Did you know that the properties of alpaca fibre differ across the different colours?

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15440478.2024.2348626

22/07/2024

As we endeavour to better understand the digestive system of species that we care for, it's good to see a study isolating different species that comprise the camelid gut microbiome.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1075996424000453

19/07/2024

Are you looking for a camelid vet in your area to tend to your herd health? Take a look at the find a vet section of our new website. Equally, if you are a vet with an interest in camelids, and wish to be included in our list - join up and drop us a line!

https://www.camelidvets.org/

15/07/2024

Interesting stuff this week, as we find another (rare) differential for facial swelling - a space occupying lesion in the maxillary region, also affecting the eye.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/10406387241258313

10/07/2024

we are VERY close to releasing tickets to our 2024 conference, including a practical day!

Stay tuned for updates.

**Save the Date**

Our 2024 UK Conference will be held on the 16-16 November, with an additional practical afternoon on the 15th for those wanting to brush up on or learn some new clinical skills.

Full details to follow, but get the dates in your diary now!

10/07/2024

It's official - alpacas are actually good for your health!

https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1815&context=honors

04/07/2024

Though our conference for 2024 is in the works, we thought it best to tell you to SAVE THE DATE for our 2nd European Congress, which we are hosting in Cambridge in September 2025.

Get the dates in your diaries for a programme you won't want to miss. Please feel free to share to colleagues the world over.

13/06/2024

Are you the default 'camelid vet' in your practice? Might you feel out of your depth sometimes? Why not join the BVCS, where you can enjoy access to a wealth of resources and lively group discussion with other camelid practitioners.

You don't need to be daunted by camelid practice - it strikes the perfect balance of herd and individual animal medine, and we're always learning.

Check out what our Secretary has to say in the latest British Veterinary Association - BVA blog.

With camelid numbers rising, Ami Sawran, Clinical Director of Westpoint Farm Vets, is keen to inspire confidence among vets who may have these animals in their caseload.