castle-docs/content/animals/emergency.md

title	description	tags
Animal Emergency	Emergency procedures and vet contacts for alpacas, horses, chickens, and ducks	emergency animals veterinary

Animal Emergency

[!important] On duty? If you're holding an animal-care shift, you're the calm responder when something needs attention. See index#animal-care-roles for how shifts are delegated.

[!tip] Our care philosophy We tend toward natural care first — herbs, minerals, clean environment, and prevention. Antibiotics, pharmaceutical dewormers, and vaccinations are used only when absolutely necessary (e.g. genuine emergency, no natural option working). See natural-care for daily/weekly practices. In a true emergency this still means: call the vet. Don't delay over philosophy.

[!danger] Call a vet immediately for any of these

• Severe bleeding that won't stop
• Difficulty breathing / open-mouth breathing
• Suspected fracture, severe lameness, can't stand
• Severe colic (rolling, thrashing, kicking belly)
• Animal isolated from herd + unresponsive
• Choke (food/object stuck, drooling, distress)
• Predator attack — even if no visible injury (shock kills)

Vet Contacts

[!important] Try in this order

Vet	Phone	Notes
Élodie Vétérinaire	06 77 74 83 67	Primary local vet
Clinique Vétérinaire Saintenac (Varilhes)	05 61 67 43 36	Clinic, regular hours
Vétérinaire du Chat Perché (Saint-Girons)	05 61 66 01 66	Previous vet (Emilie Gusse) — has all alpaca history

When You Call the Vet

Have ready:

• Which animal (Onyx/Onu, Flocon/Floco, Sapphire/Sapphi, the horses, the LGDs — see the index)
• Symptoms (specific, when they started)
• Vital signs if known (heart rate, temperature, gum color)
• What changed (new feed, weather, predator activity)
• The chateau address: Rue Grand Rue de Bellissen, Bénac, 09000 Foix

Quick Symptom Reference

[!warning] Camelids (alpacas) hide illness Alpacas are prey animals — they mask symptoms until very serious. If something seems off, act on it.

🚨 Call vet now

Symptom	Possible Cause
Not eating 24+ hrs	Colic, severe illness
No manure output	Colic, blockage
Lying down + getting up repeatedly	Colic
Kicking at belly, hunched/stretched posture	Colic
Bloated/tight abdomen	Colic, bloat
Self-isolating from herd	Severe illness
Gums pale, purple, or very red	Shock, circulation issue
Heart rate ≥ 60 bpm (horse) and rising	Severe colic
Stargazing, head tilt, unsteady gait (alpaca)	Neurological — emergency
Open-mouth breathing (poultry)	Severe respiratory distress
Comb/wattle blue or purple (chicken)	Oxygen / circulation crisis
Limp, cold feet/bill (duck)	Shock
Predator attack (any)	Shock — even with no visible wound

⚠️ Watch closely / call if not improving

Symptom	Action
Reduced appetite	Monitor 12-24 hrs, call if no change
Reduced manure	Isolate to monitor output
Mild lameness	Rest, check hoof/leg, call vet if persists
Wound (small, clean)	Clean with antiseptic, monitor
Ruffled feathers + lethargy	Isolate, monitor, call if worsens

First Aid Before the Vet Arrives

General

1. Stay calm. Approach slowly so you don't add stress.
2. Move others away if possible — calm herd, secure the patient.
3. Bleeding — apply firm direct pressure with a clean cloth.
4. Don't give medication unless the vet has told you to.
5. Note the time symptoms started.

Colic (alpaca/horse)

• Remove all food.
• Water is OK unless the vet says otherwise.
• Short, calm walking can help with mild gas pain — stop if pain worsens.
• Do not give Banamine, sedatives, or any drug without vet approval (masks symptoms).

Wounds

1. Stop bleeding with direct pressure.
2. Once bleeding controlled, rinse with clean water or saline.
3. Apply antiseptic from the first-aid-kit.
4. Cover lightly with non-stick dressing.
5. Keep flies off — wound spray or covering.

Predator attack

• Even if no visible injury, animal can die of shock — call vet.
• Keep animal warm and quiet, away from predator/threat.
• Do not chase off other herd members — they reduce stress.

Choke (food/object stuck)

• Remove all food and water.
• Keep the head low if possible (helps drainage).
• Don't try to push obstruction down — call vet.

Heat / cold stress

• Heat: shade, water, hose down legs/belly (not back).
• Cold: dry shelter, blankets if soaked, hot water bottles for poultry chicks.

First Aid Kit

The VetSet Complete Equine First Aid Kit is in: TBD — set location.

Latex-free gloves are stocked. See first-aid-kit for full contents.

After Hours

• If your vet doesn't answer, try the next number on the list.
• For horses specifically, the Cleveland-style rule applies: when in doubt, call. Waiting too long with colic is fatal.
• Document everything — photos and timestamps help the vet enormously.

Related

• alpacas
• horses
• poultry
• first-aid-kit
• ../emergency/medical