| Alpaca need their vitamins, particularly Vitamin D. They come from the highlands of South America where the sun always shines. Once in foreign lands they often encounter an environment that has less sunshine and more clouds. Without the sun alpacas do not receive adequate levels of vitamin D, which they require for proper bone growth. This lack of vitamin D can result in angular limb deformity. In humans this condition is called rickets. Vitamin D is a must for all growing alpacas. Vitamin D is almost always sold in combination with Vitamin A.It is highly recommended that Vitamin D supplement be given to cria and weanlings, either orally or by injection, born in late summer or autumn to maximize correct bone growth over the winter months. You should also dose cria who are weaned in the fall. The standard dose for Vitamin D is 1000 international units (IU) per pound of bodyweight. Refer to the label for the correct conversion to milliliter per pound. This generally amounts to about 1 ml (cc) per 75 pounds of body weight for young cria or weanlings.Vitamin B Complex, iron and Selenium can also be helpful to the health of alpacas. Dr. Jones recommends their use as follows: Vitamin B Complex, for animals showing signs of polioencaphlomalacia or animals chronically off their feed. Iron to be used for certain conditions of anemia. Selenium supplementation is important if alpacas are grown in selenium deficient areas.
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