MU VMTH Partnership

Osage Alpacas is pleased to host MU VMTH students and professors for dozens of alpaca visits each year as their unofficial camelid "teaching herd". Dr. Tessa Marshall & Dr. Dusty Nagy, each with tremendous alpaca credentials, work particularly close with Osage Alpacas to monitor herd health and to advance herd management practices. This close relationship with MU VMTH has lead to years of very rewarding interaction between students and alpacas.

Camelid Services

University of Missouri
College of Veterinary Medicine

The MU Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital offers a complete range of services to camelid patients.

We have on-site specialists in:
• Surgery and anesthesia
• Ophthalmology
• Dermatology
• Diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy
• Cardiology
• Many other specialty areas

The food-animal clinic provides routine and emergency services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as phone consultation. Animals can be brought to the clinic or seen on your farm. If you have any questions about the services offered, we welcome your inquiries.

Common procedures performed include:
• Vaccination
• Castration
• Pregnancy testing
• Toenail and teeth trimming
• Shearing
• Tooth extraction
• Neonatal care
• Emergency care
• Infertility work-up
• Reproductive ultrasound

Whole Herd Management Options

We provide several options for assistance with herd management depending on your level of production and experience.

Herd Management Level One

We offer annual herd visits to assess general herd health and address any questions or concerns you may have about individuals. Herd plans and protocols may be developed for the following year and review of the previous year will be made.

Herd Management Level Two

We offer quarterly herd visits throughout the year to help implement and assess herd health programs on the farm. These programs may include: Body condition scoring, deworming, fecal egg counts for parasite monitoring, tooth trimming, toe nail trimming, castration and reproductive evaluations.

Herd Management Level Three

We offer monthly herd visits during which we provide all the services listed in option two on a monthly basis, plus the option of more individual health monitoring.

Estimates for services are available upon request from the MU VMTH.

Our Mission
The mission of the food-animal section is to benefit public health, the veterinary profession and livestock producers and bolster the economy of Missouri by providing excellent professional, graduate and undergraduate education; protecting animal health and well-being through individual animal and herd services; providing extension and continuing education; and conducting research.

Giving to the MU College of Veterinary Medicine

Gifts to the University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine are needed to help fund our work in teaching, research and patient care. Gifts directed toward Veterinary Production Medicine support advancements in clinical diagnostics and therapeutics for camelids and food animals as well as resident and student training. Donations also help advance research. To donate to our mission, please make checks payable to the University of Missouri and designate the funds for Production Medicine. Your donation may be considered a charitable contribution to the extent allowed by law.

Gifts can also be designated for the following scholarships:
• The Midwest Owners and Breeders Association: Scholarship Award is given in recognition of a student with an interest in camelid practice;
• The Mid America Alpaca Foundation: Travel Award serves to help students travel to camelid-related conferences and educational opportunities.

For information on other ways to contribute to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, please contact the Development Office at 888-850-2357 or e-mail: umccvmdevelopmentinfo@missouri.edu