Uterine Torsion in Llamas and Alpacas

Abstract

Uterine torsion is a recognized cause of dystocia in large animals. Relative frequency and severity vary between species, but both dam and offspring can be saved and torsion corrected if the condition is diagnosed in a timely fashion. Uterine torsion is recognized as a cause of colic and dystocia in llamas and alpacas, but is usually regarded as less common than malpresentations involving the long neck and limbs of crias. In fact, uterine torsion may be responsible for some of those malpresentations.