Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Alpaca health · Infectious diseases

Clostridial Enterotoxemia in Alpacas

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team6 peer-reviewed references
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Emergency — call your vet now

This condition can kill within hours. Get veterinary help immediately.

A rapidly fatal toxin-mediated disease of the gut, often triggered by sudden diet changes. Vaccination makes it rare.

Category
Infectious diseases
Urgency
Emergency
Also called
Overeating disease, Clostridium perfringens
Vaccine
Yes — CDT

Signs & symptoms

  • Sudden death
  • Colic, rolling, distress
  • Bloody diarrhea
  • Seizures, star-gazing, collapse

Related symptom guides: Sudden Death in an Alpaca, Star-gazing or Blindness.

What causes it?

Clostridium perfringens types A, C and D multiply explosively in the intestine — typically after grain, lush pasture or diet changes — and release toxins.

Risk factors

  • Unvaccinated animals, especially crias
  • Sudden access to grain or lush feed
  • Overeating

How vets diagnose it

Clinical history and necropsy with toxin testing.

Treatment

Emergency vet care: antitoxin, fluids and antibiotics; prognosis is guarded.

Do not wait to see if it improves. Camelids hide illness, and by the time signs are obvious the problem is often advanced. Call your veterinarian.

Prevention

  • Vaccinate with a C. perfringens C & D plus tetanus vaccine (CDT) as recommended by your vet
  • Vaccinate pregnant females 4-6 weeks before birthing so crias get antibodies in colostrum
  • Make every diet change gradually over 1-2 weeks

Background

Enterotoxemia is a condition induced by the absorption of large volumes of toxins produced by bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens from the intestines. There are several strains of C. perfringens that may lead to the development of this gastrointestinal condition.From Wikipedia — “Enterotoxemia”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Research & references

PubMed lists 16 peer-reviewed papers on this topic in camelids. The most relevant include:

  1. Infectious diseases of New-World camelids (NWC). Thedford TR, Johnson LW The Veterinary clinics of North America. Food animal practice, 1989. PubMed 2647231 · DOI · cited 25×
  2. Biodiversity and Phylogenetic Relationships of Novel Bacteriocinogenic Strains Isolated from Animal's Droppings at the Zoological Garden of Lille, France. Eveno M, Salouhi A, Belguesmia Y et al. Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins, 2021. PubMed 32388703 · DOI · cited 5×
  3. Preparation and Application of Clostridium perfringens Alpha Toxin Nanobodies. Jia Q, Ren H, Zhang S et al. Veterinary sciences, 2024. PubMed 39195835 · DOI · Free full textOpen access · cited 5×
  4. Eimeria macusaniensis associated lesions in neonate alpacas dying from enterotoxemia. Rosadio R, Londoñe P, Pérez D et al. Veterinary parasitology, 2010. PubMed 19926224 · DOI · cited 15×
  5. Diagnosis and treatment of Eimeria macusaniensis in an adult alpaca with signs of colic. Johnson AL, Stewart JE, Perkins GA Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997), 2009. PubMed 18036857 · DOI · cited 8×
  6. Concurrent Clostridial Enteritis and Oviductal Adenocarcinoma with Carcinomatosis in an Adult Alpaca (Vicugna pacos). Womble M, Schreeg ME, Hoch A et al. Journal of comparative pathology, 2021. PubMed 34886986 · DOI · cited 3×

Frequently asked questions

What is clostridial Enterotoxemia in alpacas?
A rapidly fatal toxin-mediated disease of the gut, often triggered by sudden diet changes. Vaccination makes it rare.
What are the signs of clostridial Enterotoxemia?
Sudden death, colic, rolling, distress, bloody diarrhea and seizures, star-gazing, collapse.
How do you prevent clostridial Enterotoxemia?
Vaccinate with a C. perfringens C & D plus tetanus vaccine (CDT) as recommended by your vet. Vaccinate pregnant females 4-6 weeks before birthing so crias get antibodies in colostrum. Make every diet change gradually over 1-2 weeks.
Is clostridial Enterotoxemia an emergency?
Emergency — call your vet now. This condition can kill within hours. Get veterinary help immediately.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.