Book a vet visit soon
Not usually an emergency, but it needs a diagnosis and a plan.
Ear tips, the scrotum and tails can freeze in severe cold and wind, especially in shorn, wet or young animals.
- Category
- Weather & environment
- Urgency
- Book a vet visit soon
- Also called
- Cold stress
Signs & symptoms
- Cold, hard, pale ear tips
- Later: dark, shriveled tissue that falls off
- Shivering and weakness in cold stress
What causes it?
Extreme cold with wind and moisture; lack of shelter.
Risk factors
- Wind chill below about 0°F (-18°C)
- Recently shorn or wet animals
- Thin or old alpacas
How vets diagnose it
Physical examination.
Treatment
Warm slowly; do not rub frozen tissue. Your vet will manage damaged tissue.
Prevention
- Three-sided shelters facing away from the wind
- Extra hay in cold snaps
- Coats for crias and old animals
Background
Frostbite is an injury to skin or other living tissue that is allowed to freeze, especially affecting the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin. Most often, frostbite occurs in the hands and feet, often preceded by frostnip, a paling or reddening of a body part as its blood vessels constrict that tingles, feels very cold, or simply feels numb. This may be followed by the clumsiness and white or bluish, waxy-looking skin that evidence full-blown frostbite. Swelling or blistering may occur following treatment. Complications may include hypothermia or compartment syndrome.From Wikipedia — “Frostbite”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Frequently asked questions
What is frostbite & Cold Stress in alpacas?
Ear tips, the scrotum and tails can freeze in severe cold and wind, especially in shorn, wet or young animals.
What are the signs of frostbite & Cold Stress?
Cold, hard, pale ear tips, later: dark, shriveled tissue that falls off and shivering and weakness in cold stress.
How do you prevent frostbite & Cold Stress?
Three-sided shelters facing away from the wind. Extra hay in cold snaps. Coats for crias and old animals.
Is frostbite & Cold Stress an emergency?
Book a vet visit soon. Not usually an emergency, but it needs a diagnosis and a plan.
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.