Littleborough alpaca has medical procedures filmed for TV as costs increase

Dougal the alpaca

A sick alpaca from Littleborough is having his medical procedures filmed for television's The Yorkshire Vet, as seen on Channel 5.

After several months of illness, Dougal, a 15-month-old alpaca at Calderbrook Alpacas, took a turn for the worse on Wednesday 23 September.

Falling over repeatedly, Dougal was unable to stand or walk, with a specialist alpaca vet believing that Dougal was showing signs of a vertebral abscess and discospondylitis – an infection in his spine.
 

Read more: Help save Dougal the alpacaPublished: 04 October 2020

Dougal underwent a CT scan on Thursday (5 November), at a further cost of at least £1,200 – meaning Calderbrook Alpacas still requires help to cover the unexpected medical costs for Dougal, one of its youngest animals.

Joanne Schembri, who runs Calderbrook Alpacas, said: “The images are being sent off to a radiologist to interpret; nothing strikingly obvious has been seen yet. He will have his procedure filmed for The Yorkshire Vet programme as camera crew will follow us and his journey.

“Dougal was so well behaved and coped with a general anaesthetic. We were filmed during drop off and collection. Dougal was the first alpaca in the Donaldsons Vets hospital through the CT scanner; they were very pleased to have him.

“I am so pleased he’s back home with the rest of his chums, but the cost is at least £1,200 - just for the CT scan. This is on top of his medication that he’s been on for over the last six weeks.”

To help with Dougal’s medical costs, please visit:

• www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-dougal-the-alpaca