Clinical examination of the adult camelid

A thorough clinical examination is a key factor in working towards a differential diagnosis list and eventually a diagnostic and treatment plan. Camelids can be challenging patients as a result of their stoic nature, making attention to detail imperative for the clinician.

Taking a thorough history is important, either before arrival on farm or animal-side, before clinical examination. This can provide insight into the owner's knowledge of, and worries about, the patient. For example, is the patient eating/drinking/urinating/defecating normally? Is there a change in habits for that patient, for example hanging back from the herd or spending more time lying down? Making contact before the visit also allows us to establish whether the animal is well handled or not, therefore informing whether extra pairs of hands are required. While the individual animal history is important, it is also useful to know the farm history. For example, are the animals vaccinated? Have they had similar problems before? Have there been any recent management changes? Are the animals adequately supplemented with vitamin D over the winter and what are the farm-specific parasite control strategies? Knowing when the last parasite screen was performed, the test type used, its results and any treatment is important. Could the animal be pregnant? Are the animals managed according to gender/life stage? What are the animals fed? Non camelid-specific feeds can lack essential minerals and therefore cause clinical issues which are often herd-wide. Knowledge of the farm set-up can start to prioritise differential diagnoses.