Not that you can really tell from the photos but this is a rather subdued Neptune (on the left) and a worried Jupiter (on the right)! We ‘think’ Neptune either ate something that disagreed with him or ate a bit too much grass maybe, because this evening he was very reluctant to move and kept emitting a low ‘moaning’ sound as though in pain. At one point he just lay flat out and at that point we called the vet. Our experience of ‘ill’ alpacas is rather limited as both Neptune and Jupiter have been incredibly healthy in the three years we have had them.
Rachel came out from Market Vets (ironically she had been here earlier doing another farm walk with Jack checking the cows and discussing overall winter management and spring births..). She described his stomach movements as 'dis-organised' which certainly suggested there was something in there that there should not be, but the hope was that after a night in with just hay and water, things would sort themselves out. She gave him some pain relief and suggested we check him again before bedtime.
Jupiter was very concerned as we led Neptune up to the barn and followed very closely behind. His nerve left him however as we entered the barn and rather than also get put inside, he ran back down to the others. Poor Neptune was not impressed!!!
(Update Saturday 1st Oct: we were greeted by a very bright face this morning and having checked he had poo-ed over night, we let a much more bouncy Neptune back out onto the field... whatever it was, his poorly stomach seems to have sorted itself out...)