For many alpaca owners, the daily check is as routine as making the morning tea. Yet what may look like a peaceful herd munching away in a field can mask subtle, slow-burning health issues. Alpacas are prey animals, hardwired by evolution to hide signs of illness until problems are advanced. That’s why a consistent and structured daily visual check is essential in your animal care toolkit.
Whether you’re running a professional breeding enterprise, a fibre-focused herd, or a small hobby group, this article outlines the ten most important things to look for during your daily rounds. These checks are quick, practical, and designed for use by both seasoned keepers and newcomers alike.
Let’s dive into the ten daily non-negotiables I recommend for every alpaca, every day.
1) Appetite and Feeding Behaviour, what to look for:
- Is each alpaca approaching the feed station?
- Are they eating with enthusiasm?
- Is anyone hanging back, spitting out pellets, or chewing oddly?
A change in feeding behaviour is often the first sign that something isn’t right. Whether it’s a dental issue, parasitic burden, stress, or early systemic illness, alpacas who are “off their feed” tend to do so quietly. Make sure you observe not just who eats, but how they eat.
2) Body Posture and Movement, what to look for:
- Standing hunched or with back arched
- Reluctance to walk or a subtle limp
- Excessive lying down or restlessness
- Head carried low or tail clamped
These are classic pain signals. A hunch or stiffness could point to abdominal pain, foot issues, joint problems, or musculoskeletal injuries. Alpacas with colic may walk aimlessly or repeatedly lie down and stand up again. Subtle lameness may indicate foot abscesses or toe issues, especially after prolonged wet periods.
In particular, it’s worth watching an alpaca’s gait from behind when they walk, to see if they favour one leg or “bunny hopping”, as this is easily missed from the front.
3) Demeanour and Interaction with the Herd, what to look for:
- Withdrawn or isolating from the group
- More aggressive or unusually submissive
- Changes in rank or routine behaviour
Changes in social dynamics often reflect underlying stress or discomfort. An alpaca that’s suddenly avoiding the others or lying away from the group might be feeling vulnerable due to illness or injury. Conversely, an animal that becomes abnormally aggressive might be reacting to pain. Daily checks are your best way to catch these shifts before they escalate into a crisis—or before an unwell alpaca becomes a target for herd aggression.
4) Eyes, Nose, and Face, what to look for:
- Discharge from eyes or nostrils
- Swelling on the jaw or under the eyes
- Cloudiness, redness, or excessive tearing
- Sores or crusts around the face
Facial swelling can indicate tooth root abscesses, sinus infections, or trauma. Ocular discharge or cloudiness might point to injury, infection, or parasite-related inflammation (like from flystrike or Thelazia eye worms in some regions). Always take a second look at any alpaca with a stained cheek, squinting, or frequently rubbing its face on fences or posts.
5) Skin and Fibre Condition, what to look for:
- Bare patches or excessive fibre loss
- Scaling, scabs, or thickened skin
- Itching or repeated scratching
- Lumps or crusts under the fleece
Skin disease in alpacas is common and often underdiagnosed. Mites (particularly Chorioptes), fungal infections, or nutritional deficiencies can all affect the skin and fibre. These issues not only reduce fleece quality but can severely impact the animal’s comfort and weight gain.
6) Body Condition Score (BCS), what to look for:
- Palpate the spine and ribs regularly
- Compare individuals, especially cria and older animals
- Track changes over time, not just snapshots
Because alpacas carry so much fleece, it’s easy to overlook weight loss. An animal may look outwardly fine but be hiding a BCS of 1.5 (severely thin). Undernutrition, parasites, dental issues, and chronic disease often manifest first as gradual weight loss. Weekly weighing is ideal, but at minimum, palpate the lumbar spine every few days. Get to know what “normal” feels like under the fleece.
7) Dung Output and Urination, what to look for:
- Normal pellet shape and consistency
- No straining to defecate or urinate
- No wetness around the tail or hind legs
- No blood, mucus, or diarrhoea
Changes in faeces can reflect diet changes, parasitic load, or early signs of digestive upset. Diarrhoea in cria is particularly concerning and often signals enteric infection, worm burdens, or stress. Urinary straining or wetness may suggest stones (particularly in males), bladder issues, or UTIs. A tip is watch animals during their morning toilet time, and take note of what “normal” dung looks like for your herd.
8) Tail and Perineal Area, what to look for:
- Clean and dry under the tail
- No flystrike or soiling
- Vulva or sheath normal in appearance
- No swelling, redness, or discharge
This region is often overlooked but is a hotspot for early warning signs. Flystrike can establish rapidly in damp weather, particularly in soiled fibre. Reproductive infections or urinary issues may cause swelling or discharge in females or castrated males. In summer, fly prevention and tail area checks should be part of every morning routine, especially for alpacas with looser stools or skin lesions.
9) Breathing and Sounds, what to look for:
- Normal respiratory rate (10–30 breaths per minute at rest)
- No effort or wheezing
- No persistent coughing or nasal snorting
- Chest rising smoothly, no heaving
Respiratory disease can progress quickly, particularly if pneumonia or heat stress is involved. Watch for laboured breathing, open-mouth breathing, or exaggerated flank movement. Stress, parasites, or environmental factors (dusty hay, poor air quality in shelters) may also contribute. Take a moment to watch their sides rise and fall before approaching the group. Distressed breathing is often easier to observe from a distance before they move.
10) Alertness and Responsiveness, what to look for:
- Bright eyes and ears pricked forward
- Responds to your approach or familiar voice
- No lethargy, dullness, or confusion
Lethargy or listlessness is a universal red flag in alpacas. A dull cria may be hypoglycaemic or septic. An adult that lags behind or doesn’t respond to handling could be suffering from a wide range of issues, from dehydration to severe parasitism. Our top tip is to learn the normal temperament of each individual. Changes in personality are often your earliest clue something’s wrong.
How to Make Daily Checks Work
Here’s how to integrate these checks seamlessly into daily life:
- Build a Routine
Do checks at the same time each day, ideally around feeding time, when animals naturally approach you. - Use a Checklist or Journal
A simple tick sheet or notebook entry can help track patterns. Note the date, animal name, and observations. Digital herd management apps can also be useful. - Involve All Caregivers
If you share responsibilities, make sure everyone knows what to look for and how to report concerns. A laminated checklist in the feed room is a great visual prompt. - Know When to Call the Vet
Even if you’re unsure, it’s better to check early than treat late. I’d much rather hear “false alarm” than be called to a collapsed alpaca.
There’s no substitute for familiarity. The more time you spend observing your herd, the quicker you’ll notice when something is wrong. These ten daily checks aren’t about paranoia, they’re about prevention, early action, and better welfare.
Many of the most serious alpaca health crises I’ve attended over the years could have been avoided, or at least softened, by earlier recognition. A few minutes a day, consistently applied, can save lives, save money, and protect your herd’s wellbeing for years to come.
So tomorrow morning, when you step into the field, don’t just look at your alpacas. Look for the details. They’re counting on you to spot the quiet signals they won’t say out loud.
Thinking of getting alpacas? The British Alpaca Society offers free resources and a directory of accredited breeders. Also consider joining the South East Alpaca Group, a volunteer group affiliated with the BAS, who support alpaca and llama enthusiasts across the South East of England.
Message from the South East Alpaca Group committee. We know that no two herds, or herd owners, are the same. We hope you found this article useful and if you’ve got ideas, suggestions, corrections, or just a different way of doing things, we’d love to hear from you. Our goal is to offer the most accurate, practical, and useful advice possible, and that works best when we all pitch in. Drop us a line at committee@southeastalpacagroup.org.uk and help us make our articles better.