Confidence, Clarity & Freedom in Caring for Your Camelids
When I first started working with alpacas in 1989, there were very few of them in the UK – and, frankly, very few people knew much about them.
They were often described as being resistant to virtually every disease.
Newsflash… They aren’t.
Back then, we learned some things the hard way.
Problems were missed because nobody knew what to look for. Treatments that might have been perfectly reasonable in other livestock species didn’t always work the same way in camelids. Occasionally, veterinary decisions had devastating consequences.
We lost animals that, with the knowledge we have now, might have had a very different outcome.
That stayed with me.
When I went to veterinary school, I realised just how limited camelid knowledge was within the British veterinary profession. And that was when I decided that I wanted to learn as much as I possibly could about these animals – and bring that knowledge back to improve the veterinary care available to alpacas, llamas and the people who looked after them.
More than 30 years later, that is still what drives me. I’m proud to have been teaching camelid care to owners and vets for nearly 25 years.
I hate hearing that an animal has died unnecessarily because somebody didn’t recognise what was happening, didn’t know which diagnostic test to run, used the wrong treatment or simply didn’t know that there was more that could have been done.
Because now we do know so much more.
And the more of that knowledge I can put into the hands of owners and veterinarians, the more animals we can help.
But there is another side to this that has become increasingly important to me.
Owners don’t only come to me because an alpaca is sick.
Very often they come because they’re uncertain.
They’re getting three different answers from as many different people.
They’re wondering whether their vet really understands camelids.
They’re frightened they’re missing something.
They’re asking:
“Am I doing the right thing?”
Sometimes the most valuable thing I can give someone is simply clarity. I don’t just listen: I analyse, diagnose, and guide owners and their vets through complex decisions, turning uncertainty into clear, confident action that protects animals and strengthens herds.
That certainty can bring an enormous sense of relief.
This mission drives everything I do. It’s why I’m committed to not just sharing facts, but empowering you to understand your animals deeply, recognize early signs of trouble, and take confident, proactive steps that protect your herd. Because when you move from worry to certainty, you don’t just care for your animals – you enjoy them.
That’s the difference between reactive management and true stewardship. And it’s the heart of what The Alpaca Vet stands for.
That’s why I’ve distilled what I’m trying to achieve into three words:
Confidence. Clarity. Freedom.
Confidence that you’re managing your herd well.
Clarity about what matters and what to do when something isn’t right.
And the Freedom that comes from proactive care – knowing that you have systems in place, that you’re looking for problems early, and that you don’t have to spend your life second-guessing every decision.
That’s the thinking behind my mission:
Empowering owners with the confidence and knowledge to overcome fear, take control of their animals’ health, and enjoy the freedom that comes with proactive care.
And it’s also what I want these newsletters to do for you.
Rather than sending rather random newsletters whenever I happen to have something to say, I’m going to be sharing a short, practical Alpaca Vet Quick Tip each week.
Sometimes we’ll talk parasites.
Sometimes nutrition, reproduction, cria care, skin, routine management or recognising illness.
And if there’s an important seasonal warning, interesting case, new YouTube video or something happening at The Alpaca Vet, I’ll tell you about that too.
But every week I want you to come away knowing one useful thing that makes caring for your animals a little easier.
👉 Take Control This Week
Start with one question:
What is the one area of your herd health management that currently makes you feel least confident?
Write it down.
That’s the area where gaining a little more knowledge could make the biggest difference.
And it’s a good place to start.
If you’d like to sign up to receive my newsletter, please click on this link to register!
Claire
The Alpaca Vet
Confidence, Clarity & Freedom in Camelid Care