chute can be a useful piece of equipment for many situations; however, the author finds it more useful to view a chute as an intermediate step rather than a permanent solution for handling. Animals can “graduate” from the chute to the mini‐catch pen and finally to a catch pen. Chemical sedation should be considered if the animal must be completely immobilized or if the procedure is longer than a few minutes. Even though they are typically called restraint chutes, many models can be modified successfully to serve as containers rather than actual restraint devices. The author has worked effectively in chutes that had solid sides and chutes that had a single rail at chest height. The author advises against the kind of chute that has a single chin support in the front designed to be used with a halter and to immobilize the head. To be safe, these head‐restraint devices must be used with belly and back bands turning them into “camelid straight‐jackets.” Without total restraint of the body, the risk of neck, head and leg injuries is great.Chutes with upright shoulder supports can be humane, safe, and useful for certain procedures that involve the head and neck. Shoulder supports limit the movement in the front half of the body without restraining the head (Figure 2.11).To be effective for containment rather than restraint, a chute must have a rear barrier. The animal is restricted to the chute by virtue of the rear barrier in the back and the gate or shoulder supports in the front; therefore, the animal does not need to be tied. Camelids are much less likely to panic if restricted to the chute from the back than if tied by the head. In addition, these chutes can be used to handle animals who are not halter trained. The worst introduction to a halter is to have it put on the first time to be restrained in a chute. Adding a rear barrier is a modification that the author considers essential for all chutes. When using a rear barrier, it is not necessary to tie the llama or alpaca in the chute. A handler can stand at the front of the chute, offer food, and prevent the animal from turning with signals on the lead. When working alone, the animal can be tied with enough slack in the rope so it can back up and feel the rear barrier. In this way, the rear barrier stops the animal before he runs out of rope and panics.
Figure 2.10 Schematic of the Camelidynamics handling facility. This system combines a variety of handling areas depending on the task at hand. The animals can be moved from one size area to another by sliding panels or opening gates.
Figure 2.11 Llama contained in a chute. This chute has solid sides and a bar at the rear of the animal to prevent it from backing up and therefore does not require tying the animal by the head.
A rear barrier is the key to using any type of chute for containment rather than restraint.
The Midline Catch, bracelet and Handler Helper
Working with camelids is often a team effort. It is important that both team members are working together and using the principles of balance instead of restraint. Working in a small container as mentioned before is crucial, particularly if your assistant is not experienced with camelids. If the animal is not haltered, you can still use the head for balance by using a technique the author calls “the bracelet” [4]. The first order of business is to approach and catch the animal without causing a fight before the medical issue is even attempted. The author finds when animals are confined in a small area you do not need to trap the animal in a corner to get the animal under control. She uses an approach technique she calls the “midline catch” [4]. She approaches from behind the eye and moves the animal using her body position so that the animal is parallel to a panel and moving around the pen in a counterclockwise direction. Most animals are accustomed to being approached from their left side. She then approaches from behind the animal and lays her right hand on the midline of the neck about halfway between the head and back. Figures 2.12–2.14 are the midline catch and bracelet [4]. She does NOT put her hand on the off side of the neck but uses the V formed by her thumb and fingers on the midline of the neck. She uses her hand and body position to keep the animal moving in the counterclockwise direction and will allow the animal to walk along for a step or two as she walks with him before using her left hand on the front of the neck just behind the jaw but NOT on the head. Next, she slides her right hand up behind the ears and finally sliding her left hand up on the jaw until the webbing between her thumb and fingers is seated just behind the bottom lip. Her hands are now in the bracelet. Using the bracelet, she has full control over the animal's head as if she had a halter on him. The author can balance and steer the animal as the veterinarian works (Figures 2.12–2.14).
The handler helper is a useful tool for procedures that take several minutes such as trimming toenails or complex procedures involving multiple steps [4]. The handler helper is a short length of nylon with a hook and double‐ring system that allows the handler to gain leverage over the head without having to continually hold the animals or use a halter. The handler helper can also be left on temporarily while an animal is in a clinical setting so that people who are not adept at catching camelids can use it to easily catch the animal. Camelids are often frightened by the close proximity of humans and even more so when multiple people are around; a handler helper can allow the animal to distance from them and then it can be used to easily re‐catch the animal when needed.
To place the handler helper, the handler allows the animal to rest its head in their left hand. The handler can then take the handler helper out of their pocket (a pocket on the right side works best), slip it over the camelid’s head, and snap it around the top of the neck. It is quite safe to let go of this tool as it cannot tighten and is not long enough to be dangerous. It is perfectly safe to let the animal go within the catch pen to offer a break (Figures 2.15 and 2.16).
Figure 2.12 Demonstration of catching an alpaca with a “midline catch.” The first step is placing the right hand on the midline of the neck at the base of the skull. The animal will likely move forward into the escape route inside the pen.
Figure 2.13 Demonstration of control of an alpaca with a “midline catch.” The second step of the technique involves placing the flat palm of the left hand in front of the neck. The animal is free to move. The handler stays with the animal as he walks. Once the animal stops, the hand moves into the bracelet position making it possible to balance the head and neck in line with the body.
