Alpaca toenail trimming
Article by Julie Mansell, Riverdale Alpacas.
Long toenails that
needing clipping
Toenail trimming should be a part of routine alpaca care. It is a two person job, though you can get trimming done on your own if you have well trained alpacas. Here are a few tips and techniques.
Balance is the key, for the alpaca, that is. Asking an alpaca to stand quietly while we pick up a foot to trim a toenail requires a good deal of trust on the alpaca's part. We are asking them to give up the primary means of escape, that is, a leg, and stand still while we cut away.
Alpaca toenails grow continuously throughout their lives. Alpacas that live on hard rocky ground naturally wear their toenails short. Where alpacas live on soft ground, their toenails tend to grow longer. Long toenails may curve, causing the toe to twist and eventually the nail will break off painfully.
Nails once trimmed
back
Lighter coloured toenails tend to need trimming more often than dark toenails, which are often harder and slower growing, and hence an annual trim is sufficient.
The underside of an alpaca's foot is made up of a soft pad and two toes which each have a nail that grows in a similar way to our own nail. Cradle the foot in your hand while trimming with the other hand.
If you do cut in to the quick, apply pressure to the bleeding and some topical antibiotic like Tetravet Spray. Keep an eye on the alpaca for a few days to make sure the foot does not get infected.
Cradling the foot to
trim the nail
There are many different clippers you can use for the job. Alpaca clippers are ideal, and goat and sheep trimmers work well. Alpaca clippers come with a handy leg holster.
My method for trimming a front leg is to have my helper hold the alpaca on the opposite side from the leg I am going to trim. I approach the alpaca at the shoulder and facing the rear end I slide my left hand over the shoulder and my right hand down the side of the leg. At this point the alpaca will begin to move away from you and I can use my left hand to check them gently to stand back in balance. When I get to about the knee I slide my hand to the front of the shin and ask the alpaca to lift the leg by gently pressing towards the rear of the alpaca. As they begin to lift the leg I cradle the ankle in my hand.
The finished trimmed
nail
Sometimes they will struggle a little against you at this point - go with the movement slightly but do not get in to a fight with them over the leg. Try to keep them in balance as you do this; you can use your hip against their shoulder to push their weight back over on to the other leg. This is a good lesson to begin on your babies to get them ready for the big day.
For some alpacas you might have to repeat the lesson a few times in separate sessions until they feel comfortable in letting you handle their legs. If they do fight with you over the leg, let them have it back, re-balance and begin again. They have 8 nails to trim - some will need 8 sessions!
Leg holster clippers.
To trim a rear leg, I have my handler holding the alpaca in balance. I approach the animal at the shoulder again and move towards the rear. I place my left hand over the back at the rump area and at the same time slid my right hand down the thigh. As I get to the hock I slid my hand down the back of the lower leg and as I do exert a forward pressure and ask the alpaca to lift his leg. The lift is in a forward movement not an upward movement.
While I am doing this my left hand slides over and collects the leg from the right hand and cradles the foot so I can begin clipping. Now I have my left arm in-between the two legs. Rear legs are the hardest but some alpacas are very co-operative.
Sometimes the alpaca will sit or "cush". With a little persuasion you can sneak the foot out sufficiently to trim the nail while they are cushed.
