Hi,
 
I have a young cria 6 weeks old  and although he doesnt have the eyelid redness he has lost his hair on the inside of his front legs and exposed his pink freckly skin(similar to the eyelids). There is no scaps just pink skin. What would cause this? He has lost a fair bit almost half way down his inside front legs.
If anyone can help it would be appreciated.
Regards,  
Brenda

Joy -love the ideas.  In fact, today I started with Tea Tree Oil mixed into Paraffin Oil but tomorrow I think that I'll go with the oil/metho route.  If there be mites there then I must be killing them and I think that the metho can do that.  Actually, come to think of it, I think that I'll alternate the treatments.  I'll up the ante and increase the number of times I treat her.  
 
I take it that you think that it's mites as well?  
 
Brenda - have you looked very closely around the outside edges of the bare areas - where there is still hair left?  Can you possibly see any soiling similar to that in my photo?

Well, latest update.
 
I've been hesitant to say that there's a difference.  I hope that I'm seeing the corner of her eyes producing less gunk, the dirty area cleaning up, and the redness turning whiter........  but, it's so hard to be sure after a relatively short time.
 
However: I'm just amazed that I've been looking everywhere on the internet trying to confirm that mites will infest eyelids....I read that they infest the perineum, the face, the muzzle, nose, legs.....in the ears, on the ears.... but I didn't find anything concerning eyes.  Today I was out there, watching....and then she twitched her tail and I was sure that I saw a discoloured, darkish spot.  The perineum?  Mites?  I lifted her tail today and yes, scabby spots at the tail/smooth area interface and next to the anus.  I'll try to get a photo tomorrow.  WHY DIDN'T I CHECK THERE BEFORE?    
 
LESSON 1.  When I saw the red around the eyes I should have checked her all over.....
 
I've been trawling over the internet and didn't find anything to confirm the red eyelid symptom....until just now (of course) when I used the term, 'red eyes mites alpaca'.  And then it coughed up a few references.  It appears that mites will cause the symptoms that I've seen on our one's eyelids.  
 
LESSON 2.  Eyelids/eyes - you've got to try so many different search terms to be sure that you find what you're looking for!
 
Brenda - looks like we have to work out what to do for the mites.  Irrespective of any injection, it's important to divest the animal of any scabs or hardened skin patches.  That's where Joy and Heroide's glycerine/metho mix sounds very bright.  I like Tea Tree Oil too and have been mixing it with paraffin oil.  Needless to say, once I'd done her eyes her backside was given a very liberal smearing.
 
Although finding other affected areas is disappointing, it's also a relief to seemingly confirm the diagnosis....

For the sake of honesty: I shall now confess......
 
I mentioned to our vet that I thought that this weaner (she's 9 months old) has mites.  I mentioned the red eyes and the scabbiness around the anus area (I'll upload a photo).  She went on high alert.  She said that she is not convinced by any test methods any longer - they don't always  come back with an answer  that is helpful = 'skin irritation, dermal reaction"....and certainly not the fungus/mite/other that you are definitively looking for.  She has recommended these courses of action to other owners and eventually the costs have amounted to $7/800.  And, the results are not always successful.  In fact, she mentioned the poor, long suffering animal that she took on thinking that she'd be able to mend it and still has not made headway.
 
Her opinion is that alpacas are a naturally stressed animal.  Heightened stress, though, leaves an animal vulnerable to a mite infestation.  Mites are always on the animal (always in the environment) and when their immune system is compromised/stressed then that's when the problems can arise.  She also suspects that their might be cause to investigate an inherited disposition towards skin problems.
 
Whatever the cause, the problem of the scaling, scabby skin is difficult to cure and requires, in her opinion, a fully 'armed' response.  
 
She has given me the following course of action:
 
1) the injection of Ivermectin @ 0.2 ml per 10kg of bodyweight (ours is 45kg so we give her 0.9 ml) weekly for four weeks.
2) twice weekly shampooing with Malaseb shampoo (antifungal, antibiotic, anti this and that - but, it doesn't smell and doesn't seem very offensive) that is left on for 10 minutes before rinsing.  Then there's the topical application of the leave-in 'conditioner' Pyroxin - (antibiotic action) - to the affected and vulnerable areas.  (I reckon on under the tail, between the toes, under the armpits and in the groin/teat area.)
 
The injection is to kill feeding mites.  The shampoo/wash treatment is to settle the skin and help to remove the scabs (I don't think that it has a mite-killing action to it).  I have to add that I've fancied that I've seen her starting to look a little itchy....I feel good to have given her a wash.
 
The wash went surprisingly well.  No fighting, kicking, screaming: she plainly stood and settled into the water.  We used a soft rose attached to a hose.  We used a sponge to apply the shampoo that was watered down to help it spread further.  Left on for 10 minutes and then rinsed off with the hose.  Towel dried and the leave-on conditioner applied to the areas as mentioned above.
 
She doesn't seem to have minded the whole business whatsoever.  I might add that a shampoo and towel dry of an alpaca does nothing to improve the look of them regarding vegetable matter in the fleece!  
 
I will try to update this post in a fortnight and again in one month.
 
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Hi Philip
 
Mites are notoriously difficult to get rid of. I am not a vet but have had several discussions with vets about them. The problem is that mites tend to feed on dead skin tissue, not live skin, so injectables like Ivermectin are only of limited use as they only put the poison into living skin. To really have a chance of getting rid of them involves treating externally. There is a variety of treatments for this, such as you have already tried plus the rather nasty sprays/washes which can be effective if persevered with. Because the mites move around, they can survive one or two treatments so you need to keep checking for them.
 
With the tests, we had a little chap we suspected of having mites but nothing showed up on tests until he had to be sedated for another reason and the vet took the opportunity to take a really good skin sample. This one confirmed the mites were present.
 
Good luck with your treatments
Helen

Philip, Very, very disappointed about you not continuing with the treatment, I feel with it you would have achieved your result, you gave up too soon!   However I do know that it is labour intensive and time consuming and some people prefer to resort to a needle.
Our girl did clear up with the Tea Tree oil.
 
   Sorry, but I do feel very strongly when I know the natural treatments work and I hate all the poisons and chemicals like Ivermectin and possibly that shampoo.    One thing is very true, stress is the worst thing in Alpacas and their immune system is easily compromised.  More problems with alpacas are incountered through stress  and lack of nutrition than anything else and I am trying to get people to realize that it is false economy, because then you spend a fortune on vet bills.   Our La Granja mix contains Livermol and it is one of many good supplements, such as garlic and Apple cider vinegar.   We also do not show because of the stress.   We wean at about 10 months but do not do natural weaning, except if the mother is not repregnant, it takes too much out of her system.  This is exactly why I wrote my book to get how you can run them naturally out there.
 
     I also use herbs and mine have Echinacea for immunity all the time and Chamomile for calming and Rose Hip for Vitamin C. We do not vaccinate or drench and have not done so for at least 12 years and had no one die but of natural causes
 
       She will be very itchy and I hope you cure her soon, poor girl.   All the best and I know I am a little pendantic but Creature welfare comes first on  my list, that is why I try to help.             All the best    Joy

Joy: I was a little ashamed to make that last post - I felt like I'd be letting you down......  I appreciate all of your input and the time that you give in detailed answers.  I agree with you wholeheartedly about nutrition.  I think that I had been letting her down with a lack of additional bits and pieces to ensure a fully rounded, whole supply of all that she needs.  I'm glad to hear that you use Livamol.  I've reintroduced a bit of sulphur into their diet as well as seaweed meal.  I had the Pat Coleby mix on hand but they seem to have lost interest in it so now I figure a little bit here and there mixed in can be good - particularly for her.  
 
I don't want to use anything harsh on her.  I believe that the shampoo is more delicate than I first feared as the smell is inoffensive.  I had smeared a bit of the glycerine/metho mix on her bum area and it had appeared to turn the skin in that area a little angry so I don't want to pursue that in that area.  I'm definitely of the opinion that the attention to the eyelids helped to improve the area but when I think that those mites could be lurking anywhere...I've basically freaked out and am now, akin to the vet, keen to rectify the problem swiftly.
 
I'll still keep this thread posted of the progress.  She'll be washed again on Friday (poor thing).  Still, she didn't seem to mind it and if it's a hot day I like to think that she might enjoy it!
 
All the best,
Philip.

Update as promised....
 
Well, we undertook the vet's advice (sort of).  We were supposed to shampoo twice a week but managed it only once a week for four weeks.  We're supposed to inject ivermectin weekly for 8 weeks but have done so, on average, every 10 days or so.  She's had 5 shots.
 
The first photo was posted 25th Jan.  This photo is from 03 March (5 weeks later).  
 
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Look at that!!  I think that the pink/angry colour has faded, there seems to be more hair/down and the scabby areas are virtually gone.  
 
I'll get a photo of her eye in a week or so as I don't think that the improvement is quite as obvious as it is here but I like to think that something is happening....
 

Hi Philip,
 
Ever thought of making up a calendar for next year with all these glorious photos.
 
It would certainly make an interesting conversation starter.
 
They really are fantastic shots.
 
Can I have  copies for my vet as she uses them as a teaching aids.
 
Cheers
Janet Sutherland