MacRaven - Dave Haxton's Weblog

Thu, 09 Aug 2007

Well, we lost Rasta tonight. I noticed him sitting by the water tank when I came home (about 5:30), but he was erect and chewing the cud, so I didn't think much of it. The goats got out (again) and I had some fence to fix, and by the time I noticed Rasta on his side about 8:30 it was way too late. He died a few minutes later.

He looked bloated, but bloat is rare in llamas, so I strongly suspect that he was either obstructed, or got into something poisonous. There's not going to be an autopsy, so we may never know for sure, but I'd sure be interested in hearing from anybody who knows anything about llamas as to the possibility of "bad weeds". I work hard at keeping the pasture healthy, and if something out there is deadly for one critter, you can bet it'd hurt the others, too. I'd like to find it before it does: if it's even out there.

It's been miserably hot here, and we've had no rain to speak of for several weeks. Simple heat exhaustion is a definite possibility, along with age: I have no idea how old Rasta was. He was at least five, because we got him four years ago. Today. Pretty strange, eh?

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On 8/9/2007 22:27:14
Chris and Mae Haviland wrote

We will miss Rasta

Dave - We were sorry to hear that Rasta had passed away, he was always loving and gentle to us, and the pasture will be poorer for his absence. Fara mit gothanum, Rasta.

On 8/10/2007 09:11:40
Jake Wenger wrote

A read of another llama being lost in the Washington D.C. area due to parasites of some sort, which according to author of the blog post grow more quickly in hot temperatures. Is it possible that this was the cause?

On 8/10/2007 15:20:47
Miss Tonia wrote

Kitchen Witch

Sorry to hear about your llama. It may not have been a "bad weed" or something poisonous. Someone I know in Maine has llamas and alpacas. One of her llamas died last week from colic. It seems that they can develope it and die rather quickly. Her llama died within a matter of hours. Hope that helps.

On 8/10/2007 16:01:05
Ron wrote

Sorry to hear this news. I put a link to a page I Googled listing plants toxic to llamas in the URL field. I have nothing else to add, except that if it has been as hot on your side of the Mississippi as it has been on mine, the heat may have done in poor ol' Rasta and caused the bloat you mentioned through a rapid buildup of internal gas.

On 8/11/2007 12:04:30
Rhiannon wrote

The Art Critc

He will be missed

On 8/28/2007 21:42:55
Pearl wrote

I am so sorry for your loss. I found your information as I was searching the web for information on llamas. We have been llama owners for only about a month. This afternoon our 2 year old llama was laying in the dirt and seemingly holding his mouth open. His partner in crime was also acting strangely by walking around with his mouth open and his ears back. I hosed them both down with water and made sure they drank. The temperature today was 90 degrees and the humidity was 82%. I just read an article that stated heat exhaustion was very possible when the true temperature plus the humidity index added together were more than 120. I am located in central Wisconsin. Last week, the weather was in th 60's and this week it is back in the high 80's and 90's. I don't know if this is any way related to the death of your llama, but I just wanted to extend my sympathy and share my recent experience. I am located in central Wisconsin. Last week, the weather was in th 60's and this week it is back in the high 80's and 90's.

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MacRaven
Dave Haxton's Weblog
Musings, Reflections, Rants and Comments from a Hoosier Heathen husband, father, grandfather, farmer and software engineer. There's really only one of me ...

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