How do I prevent a worm infection?

Alpacas are increasingly kept as hobby and pasture animals. Unfortunately, alpacas are highly susceptible to worm infections. To keep them healthy, good worm management is essential. With the right preventive measures, you can avoid many problems. In this blog, we explain how to prevent worm infections in alpacas.

Effective preventive measures
To prevent worm infections in alpacas, you can take the following steps:

  • Remove manure regularly: Clean the pasture at least twice a week to reduce the risk of worm infection.
  • Apply pasture rotation: Move the alpacas regularly to a new section of pasture to prevent (re)infection.
  • Test new animals: Test new alpacas for worms before introducing them to the herd to avoid contamination.
  • Let ruminants graze: Let ruminants such as sheep or cows graze the pasture to help break the worm life cycle.
  • Keep the grass short: Regular mowing helps reduce the parasite load on the grass.
  • Ensure good hygiene: Clean water troughs, shelters, and pastures thoroughly to prevent infections.
  • Do regular fecal testing: Check manure 4 times a year to detect worm infections before symptoms appear.

Only deworm your alpaca if manure testing shows it is necessary. Unnecessary deworming leads to worm resistance, which can endanger your alpaca’s long-term health. At Worm&Co, we always provide a tailored treatment recommendation based on the test results. This way, your alpaca’s health comes first and resistance is prevented.

Want to learn more about worms? Take a look at this page. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions — we’re happy to help!

Related Blogs

Is Harrowing and Spreading Manure on the Pasture Safe?

In the Netherlands, it is rarely dry or cold enough for long periods to completely kill larvae. Worm larvae do not survive well in high temperatures combined with drought, or during prolonged frost.

Worm resistance: what is it and why is it a problem? 

Worm resistance means that worms are no longer sensitive to certain deworming treatments.

Expand your expertise and join Worm&Co

For veterinarians, equine dentists, osteopaths, farriers, physiotherapists, and holistic practitioners.

WhatsApp