Poisoning is often suspected to be the origin of disease in South American camelids (SACs) by owners, but only in a few cases this assumption can be confirmed. In small ruminants, rhododendron poisoning is a common emergency for livestock veterinarians. However, this condition has rarely been reported in SACs so far. This paper provides information regarding clinical findings, hematology, clinical chemistry, and treatment of four alpacas after presumed intake of rhododendron leaves including pathological findings of one of the animals. Rhododendron leaves contain grayanatoxins that lead to hyperpolarization of excitable cells. Clinical signs that were observed in the presented alpacas comprised: salivation, dehydration, decreased motility of compartment 1, uncoordinated regurgitation, and cardiac arrhythmia. Clinical chemistry revealed that rhododendron poisoning was associated with metabolic acidosis and azotaemia, hyponatremia and hyperkalemia. Most striking macroscopic and histopathological findings included gastric ulceration, and renal infarcts along with inflammatory changes. Leaves of Rhododendron spp. were identified in the forestomach content of this animal. Affected animals were treated symptomatically as there is no specific antidote in rhododendron poisoning. This included parenteral rehydration, treatment of metabolic acidosis (infusion of sodium bicarbonate solution), and oral administration of activated charcoal to bind potential toxins. In addition, antibiotic treatment might be necessary to prevent aspiration pneumonia in case of uncoordinated regurgitation. Of the four animals, the worst affected alpaca was euthanized, one had minimal signs and two responded to supportive care and recovered. In conclusion, rhododendron poisoning might be fatal for alpacas in individual cases and therefore rhododendron bushes should not be placed in the habitat of SACs.

饲养者经常怀疑中毒是南美骆驼科动物 (SAC) 疾病的根源，但只有在少数情况下这种假设才能得到证实。在小型反刍动物中，杜鹃花中毒是牲畜兽医常见的紧急情况。然而，迄今为止，这种情况在 SAC 中很少有报道。本文提供了有关四只羊驼在假定摄入杜鹃花叶后的临床表现、血液学、临床化学和治疗的信息，包括其中一只动物的病理结果。杜鹃花叶含有导致可兴奋细胞超极化的灰色毒素。在所展示的羊驼中观察到的临床症状包括：流涎、脱水、隔室 1 运动减弱、不协调的反流和心律失常。临床化学显示杜鹃中毒与代谢性酸中毒和氮质血症、低钠血症和高钾血症有关。最引人注目的宏观和组织病理学发现包括胃溃疡、肾梗塞以及炎症变化。杜鹃花属的叶子。在该动物的前胃内容物中鉴定出。由于杜鹃花中毒没有特效解毒剂，因此对受影响的动物进行了对症治疗。这包括肠外补液、代谢性酸中毒的治疗（输注碳酸氢钠溶液）以及口服活性炭以结合潜在的毒素。此外，在不协调反流的情况下，可能需要抗生素治疗来预防吸入性肺炎。在这四只动物中，受影响最严重的羊驼被安乐死，一只羊驼症状轻微，两只对支持性护理有反应并康复。总之，杜鹃花中毒在个别情况下可能对羊驼致命，因此杜鹃花丛不应放置在 SAC 的栖息地中。