P G's remarkable recovery

To recover from a leg amputation is a remarkable achievement, but to deliver a healthy cria five months later is testimony to the resilience of a young female owned by Michael Henderson and Susan Myerscough of Legacy Alpacas, writes Alpaca editor Liz Mason.

Pussy Galore was “the best female” cria born in the Legacy herd in 2019, Michael says. With almost 20 years’ experience each, Michael and Susan are known for producing, and showing, quality Huacayas and Suris and they had high hopes this young female would have a bright future.

The maiden female was pregnant with her first cria when in December last year Michael was woken twice in the night by the unusual sound of his dog barking. He couldn’t hear or see anything wrong but when “I went out in the morning, at about five o’clock to feed the group, she came hobbling up the field,” he says.

“I went to get some painkillers for her but when I came back, I realised that she had broken her leg as the bone was sticking out of her leg.”

Heavy rain the previous night had washed soil into the mole holes on the land and Michael believes the break happened when she stepped into one of the holes. He immediately called the vet whose advice was to either put her to sleep or amputate the leg.

“That was our vet’s first thought, but instead she was referred to the University of Liverpool Vet School, after which the vet cleaned the wound and sedated the alpaca so we could take her on the 70 mile trip in the trailer.”

“We took her down there and they X-rayed her and decided the bone was quite fragmented so they couldn’t plate it. Instead they put pins in above and below the break and two bars down either side,” Michael explains.

“She had the operation in the morning and she was up and walking in the afternoon. But unfortunately after about six or seven weeks she broke one of the bars that was holding the pins together.

“The fracture opened up but the open wound had healed so the vets decided to put a cast on to hold everything together, but she was never comfortable with the cast and was limping on it.”

After two weeks the cast was removed but the wound, where the pins were inserted, was found to be septic. “At that point the vet decided they would have to amputate her leg, which was really heartbreaking after all this time, and the progress she had made” Michael says.

The following morning, the young alpaca’s leg was removed and within five days she was able to walk after having to be helped to stand, and get her balance.

Michael and Susan had first wanted to have the leg amputated as their vet had advised. But they were persuaded by the hospital’s vets to go ahead with an operation to repair the leg for ethical reasons. The aim was to save the leg and give the young female a good quality of life.

“We were worried because the operation was quite complicated and there were welfare implications that had to be taken into account because we knew she would have a long stay in hospital,” Susan adds.

Successful pregnancy

Pussy Galore was at the university hospital for 12 weeks before she finally recovered and was able to come home. But Michael and Susan ensured she was not alone. “We took two girls down to be with her,” Michael says.

Following the trauma of a leg break and amputation, ‘PG’ as she is fondly known, had made a remarkable recovery. Not only did she cope with the loss of a leg, Pussy Galore held her pregnancy and delivered a healthy female cria in May this year.

Michael discovered the cria, who is yet to be named, in the field - her remarkable dam had delivered the newborn without any assistance – although Michael and Susan knew that she was still carrying her cria. “Alpacas generally abort within 24 hours of a cria dying inside so we knew it was in there,” Michael adds.

Both Michael and Susan are delighted by the birth. Susan suggests Pussy Galore takes after her namesake, a ‘Bond girl’ in the film Goldfinger. “She’s a tough old bird” she adds.

Michael says: “She did really well - some alpacas I don’t think would have come through but she’s a strong girl.”

They would both also like to thank the team at Lanes Vets in Lancaster, in particular Harry who according to the University hospital did a first class job of cleaning up the initial wound Susan says: “We must also thank the University of Liverpool Veterinary School, including Niall and Rachel, for their care of Pussy Galore and her companions!