I am interested in what people may know about alpacas eating acorns. I looked up the diagnosis Megaesophogus : it sounds like choke, A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America (by Anthony P. Knight and Richard G. Walter) discusses the toxic properties of oak leaves, buds and acorns, stating that all are poisonous; the green acorns are more toxic than the mature ones. If the problem was megaesophogus, however, that says they got stuck in the throat. Toxic plants is a complicated subject, because there are some toxics, oxalates for one, that the alpacas may tolerate if they are introduced gradually, giving the gut time to generate appropriate bacteria that detoxify the plant material. Risky business: No wonder so many owners simply prefer dry lot feeding!!! There's so much to learn.
