INDUCTION OF PARTURITION IN ALPACAS AND SUBSEQUENT SURVIVAL OF NEONATES

Objective-To evaluate use of fluprostenol, dexamethasone, and oxytocin for induction of parturition in alpacas, and to determine viability o f the newborn crias. Design-Prospective, randomized, controlled trial. Animals-36 pregnant alpacas within 10 days of parturition. Procedure- Animals were randomly assigned to treatment groups. Plasma progesteron e and plasma and urine estrone sulfate concentrations were measured fo r 5 days after treatment. Clinical signs of the neonates were determin ed. Results-Time between treatment and parturition was significantly s horter for animals that received fluprostenol than for animals in any other group. The highest dose of dexamethasone (0.5 mg) caused fetal d eath. None of the other treatments induced early parturition. Time bet ween birth and first suckling, body weight, rectal temperature, pulse rate, and respiratory rate at birth and serum IgG concentration 24 hou rs after birth were not different between crias born after fluprosteno l treatment and crias born to control alpacas. Clinical Implications-F luprostenol was effective al inducing parturition in these alpacas, bu t dexamethasone and oxytocin were not, Crias born after fluprostenol t reatment were similar to crias born to control alpacas.