Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Alpaca health · Breeding & birthing

Mastitis in Alpacas

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team6 peer-reviewed references
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Book a vet visit soon

Not usually an emergency, but it needs a diagnosis and a plan.

Udder infection; uncommon in alpacas but painful and harmful to cria growth.

Category
Breeding & birthing
Urgency
Book a vet visit soon

Signs & symptoms

  • Hot, swollen, painful udder quarter
  • Abnormal milk
  • Cria not gaining weight
  • Fever

Related symptom guides: Cria Not Gaining Weight.

What causes it?

Bacterial infection, sometimes after injury or weaning.

Risk factors

  • Early lactation
  • Abrupt weaning

How vets diagnose it

Udder exam and milk culture.

Treatment

Antibiotics and anti-inflammatories prescribed by your vet.

Prevention

  • Check udders when weighing crias

Background

Mastitis is inflammation of the breast or udder, usually associated with breastfeeding. Symptoms typically include local pain and redness. There is often an associated fever and general soreness. Onset is typically fairly rapid and usually occurs within the first few months of delivery. Complications can include abscess formation.From Wikipedia — “Mastitis”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Research & references

PubMed lists 20 peer-reviewed papers on this topic in camelids. The most relevant include:

  1. Infectious causes of reproductive loss in camelids. Tibary A, Fite C, Anouassi A et al. Theriogenology, 2006. PubMed 16697037 · DOI · Free full textOpen access · cited 91×
  2. A practitioner's primer on foot-and-mouth disease. Musser JM Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2004. PubMed 15112774 · DOI · cited 10×
  3. Genomic analysis of group B Streptococcus from milk demonstrates the need for improved biosecurity: a cross-sectional study of pastoralist camels in Kenya. Seligsohn D, Crestani C, Forde TL et al. BMC microbiology, 2021. PubMed 34281509 · DOI · Free full textOpen access · cited 6×
  4. Characterizing Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus spp. and Extended-Spectrum Cephalosporin-Resistant Escherichia coli in Cattle. Abdank L, Loncaric I, Braun SD et al. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 2024. PubMed 39682349 · DOI · Free full textOpen access · cited 2×
  5. Composition of milk from llamas in the United States. Morin DE, Rowan LL, Hurley WL et al. Journal of dairy science, 1995. PubMed 8786255 · DOI · cited 15×
  6. Evaluation of udder health and mastitis in llamas. Rowan LL, Morin DE, Hurley WL et al. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 1996. PubMed 8870746 · cited 4×

Frequently asked questions

What is mastitis in alpacas?
Udder infection; uncommon in alpacas but painful and harmful to cria growth.
What are the signs of mastitis?
Hot, swollen, painful udder quarter, abnormal milk, cria not gaining weight and fever.
How do you prevent mastitis?
Check udders when weighing crias.
Is mastitis 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.