Get Set Vet

20/08/2026

Nothing to worry about- just something to consider given the drought and poor grass growth here in the uk right now. Iodine should go on the list of things to test for if you have higher barren rates, or if you have experienced an uptick in abortion/stillbirth or weak cria. Plenty of things could be at play- not least BTV or the heat, but it’s good to have options when you consider what to test for, as deficiencies can be easy to treat.

Don’t go drenching unnecessarily, as you don’t want to tip balances into toxicity- but some blood tests for trace elements in iodine are good options if you have concerns.

14/08/2026

As promised! Here is your camelid BTV-3 Vaccine update. This is just my take on the BVCS guidance- clinical judgement will vary from vet to vet.

14/08/2026

If you end up deciding to nurse camelids through BTV infection - here are some treatment options to consider.

04/08/2026

Chuffed to have chatted with Rob Jelly at BBC Upload back at Latitude - specifically on being creative while your material is fact, not fiction.

Being in a scientific field, you would be forgiven to for thinking that you had to leave creativity at the door, but it turns out that you can entertain and educate at the same time - one might argue that it's better that way. Nevertheless I have really enjoyed scratching a creative (showing off) itch and I've been lucky enough to have been given a platform through The Cosmic Shambles Network to do it through simply sharing my day-to-day, and doing some very low key physiology chats about alpacas...

You can listen to the interview here - I pop up at about 25 minutes.

Latitude Festival special with performers from this year's event.

04/08/2026

If you’re breeding and you haven’t banked plasma to be used in cases of failure of passive transfer, there is still time! Plasma can be stored ready to be transfused intravenously when cria are vulnerable, dehydrated, have FPT or are septic. It is a lifeline- but it will only be there if you have proactively gotten it processed. I am happy to help all alpaca owners to do this- please speak to your vet, or us at to organise a proactive drive.

24/06/2026

We have an official plasma bank! Give us a call to secure your supply for the birthing season.

03/04/2026

I am thrilled to announce that I can offer officially licenced blood drives and plasma processing from Westpoint Farm Vets. This is a great step forward for securing the health and welfare of cria, and I'm looking forward to being able to give peace of mind to camelid owners. Give the practice a call from next tuesday to express interest in a plasma drive to protect your impending cria crop!

We are committed to the future of the UK’s camelid herds.
Led by RCVS Advanced Camelid Practitioner Ami Sawran, we have invested in becoming a VMD-authorised Non-Food Animal Blood Bank to help you secure a life-saving plasma supply for the next generation.

Our accredited facility now processes and banks camelid plasma specifically to support cria with Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT).

This specialised service is offered nationwide, ensuring every herd has access to the protection they deserve.

Please contact us for details.

06/02/2026

First of all, don't panic, but let's talk about the recent paper detailing the transmission of H5N1 Avian Influenza to Alpacas.

While the recent study was based in Idaho, USA, it’s relevant to us in the UK too.

The research confirmed the first cases of H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) in alpacas, including virus detection in milk and fetal tissues following abortions. This is the same global strain currently circulating in our wild birds and poultry. If you want to be very specific, the B3.13 genotype detected in the USA isn't the same as here, but the point remains that the strain and clade (basically the lineage) are the same.

There is no need for panic, but we must stay proactive. In the UK, avian influenza is a notifiable disease in all kept mammals as well as birds. We’ve already seen spillover into UK ruminants (sheep) in 2025.

It is not expected that we can entirely remove risk from our herds, but we can take some steps to reduce it:

🦙 Cover water and feed areas to stop wild bird droppings from contaminating alpaca resources.

🦙 Strict Segregation: Keep your herd entirely separate from poultry.

🦙 Look for sudden lethargy, respiratory distress, or unusual staggering movements, and report any abortions to your vet - submitting them for testing can help to build a picture of various infectious diseases that could affect your herd.

If you have concerns, give your vet a call.

Sources:

Animal and Plant Health Agency (2026) Bird flu (avian influenza): latest situation in England. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bird-flu-avian-influenza-latest-situation-in-england

Lehman, K. A., Leibsle, S. R., Detwiler, L., Gaborick, C., McCoy-Harrison, L., Snekvik, K., ... & Robbe-Austerman, S. (2026). Detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus 2.3. 4.4 b in alpacas. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 10406387251414557.

04/02/2026

I was thrilled/honoured/astonished to be part of the Cosmic Shambles Network's Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People at Kings Place at the end of last year. I had the opportunity to perform among some comedy and science heroes, so naturally I took that and wittered about alpacas the whole time.