animals throughout this process (Figures 2.30–2.33). Hold the syringe in your dominant hand. Approach the animal from behind its line of sight when the animal is parallel to a panel. Make sure to stay behind its line of sight, position yourself on the side of the animal toward the center of the pen with the animal tracking around the outside next to the panels. The handler puts their left hand firmly on the opposite side of the animal just over the top line in the area where the neck and shoulder come together; this is the injection site. Note the injection site is on the side opposite from where the person is standing. Most importantly, reach forward and stay behind the animal's line of sight. At the same time, keep your hip as close to the animal's hip as possible. The animal changes direction by pivoting around the shoulders and using this technique, the animal can be prevented from changing direction. The animal has a forward escape route and will use it. It is not possible to give injections without restraint unless you can prevent the animal from changing direction. Working in a packed pen helps with this immensely. Though it may seem daunting to work in a group of animals within a pen, in the author's experience the animals are much less fearful, which means they kick, rear, and spit less.
Working with an Assistant
If the person giving the injection is having trouble managing the animal's direction by using their body position and hip, they can have a helper use the bracelet technique or the handler helper to assist with this by steering the animal into the forward escape route (Figures 2.34 and 2.35) It is especially important to impress upon the helper that his or her job is only to steer and NOT to attempt to slow the animal down or hold it still. If your helper puts pressure on the handler helper or attempts to hold or stop the animal, the animal will begin to fight and move erratically, often rearing, making the process of injecting much more difficult, resulting in the need for restraint.
For subcutaneous injections, use the fiber to tent the skin and inject into the subcutaneous space as the animal takes a few steps. It is not necessary to visualize the tent; it can be felt. Push the needle under the skin, being careful not to insert the needle completely through the skin tent and depress the plunger. In the case of a shorn animal, it is easy to pick up a big fold of skin and the skin tent can be easily visualized. For IM injection, the large triceps muscle just dorsal to the elbow can be palpated on the opposite side of the animal, and the needle can be directed into this large muscle mass.
Figure 2.30 Photo illustrating working in a packed pen. One handler is balancing and/or steering the animal using the bracelet, second hander administers a subQ injection. The animal is never restrained but can move.
Figure 2.31 The handler is giving an injection solo without restraint using a panel and a knee to keep the animal contained but not restrained.
For IM injections, lean over the animal and use the triceps muscle (Figure 2.36). In the case of an IM shot, the needle goes straight into the muscle and there is no need to tent the skin. The motion should be smooth and quick; there is no need to tap on the skin or use an abrupt movement. If the animal walks, simply walk with it, and the person should use their body position and hip to keep the animal tracking around the pen as you maintain your position behind the line of site.
Giving injections on the opposite side of the animal is critical to the success of this technique. The animal will naturally move away from the needle. By using this technique, the animal will move toward the person giving the injection while moving away from the needle. This makes it easy to stay with the animal and keep the needle under the skin as the injection is administered. For a right‐handed person, an approach from the animal's left, with the injection given on the right is preferred by the author, but this technique can be used from either side. Box 2.3 lists tips for giving intramuscular and subcutaneous injections.
Injections for Babies and Weanlings
Even handlers who embrace the idea of no‐restraint injections for adults, may still be tempted to pick up babies (if assistance is available) or sit on them (if no assistance is available). These techniques only teach resistance and fear, and eventually they stop working. At three or four months of age, a flailing young camelid can cause injury to itself and the humans trying to restrain it.
Figure 2.32 This photo illustrates keeping the alpaca near and parallel to the panel. The presence of other animals both slows the progress of the animal being injected and adds to the sense of security.
Figure 2.33 Injections can be given while multiple animals are contained in a round pen.
Crias can stand on their own four feet in balance and accept injections like adults. The main advantage of the no‐restraint technique is that it does not require any level of training for the animal. Halters, lead ropes, tying, and standing still are not requirements. If your herd management protocol calls for injections in the first few days of life, you can give the injections just as the author has described. Always keep a new baby with its mother; a catch pen is great for this. As crias get older, you can work them with the herd.
Drawing Blood
Blood can be taken from the neck, ear, tail, or front leg. In the author's experience, the easiest location to draw blood without restraint is from the jugular vein. Always work inside a catch pen or a trailer. To assist the person drawing blood, stand on the left side of the animal, with the person drawing blood in the front and a bit to the right. Standing on the left side of the animal, the author prefers to put one hand on the handler helper (high and snug on the neck) and the other hand under the jaw. When a halter is used, there is a tendency to rely on it to hold rather than balance the head. Balance the animal and turn the head to the left, which helps the person drawing the blood to find the vein. Ask the person drawing blood to let the handler know when he or she is going to push the needle in. When the animal reacts, try to rebalance it but do not attempt to hold it down or still. It is important for both parties to remember to breathe.
Figure 2.34 In this photo, a helper is balancing the animal for an IM injection.
