Cliffe Vets success in complex surgery on baby alpaca
March 30, 2026
Cliffe Vets, a group of mixed vet practices based in East Sussex, united their small animal, farm and equine vet colleagues to perform complex leg surgery on a baby alpaca.
Back in January, Lilly Griffiths, Veterinary Surgeon at Cliffe Farm Vets paid a visit to a client’s farm after they called concerned about one of their alpacas. Major, a six-month-old cria, had slipped on ice, and his owners suspected his leg was broken.
Cliffe Vets assessment and surgery
The baby alpaca was then brought into Cliffe’s dedicated equine hospital for an X-ray, where the clinical team confirmed he had suffered a tibial fracture. Due to the location of the break, Major required surgery rather than treatment with a cast alone.
Mark Bacon, Small Animal Clinical Director, and orthopaedic surgeon at Cliffe Vets, led the surgery. Billy Dean-Gant, Equine Veterinary Surgeon, and Kassie Hill, Equine Head Nurse also scrubbed up to support.
“We performed the procedure in the equine hospital’s theatre, where he had two locking plates applied in order to stabilise the fracture,” explained Mark.
Alongside the surgery team were Isabel Field, Farm Vet, who performed the anaesthesia, and Small Animal RVNs Ashleigh Stokes-Heasman and Samantha Langridge who helped monitor the anaesthetic.
Mixed vet practice teamwork
“Staff from small animal, farm and equine were all present and contributed equally to the success of the procedure. I felt that it was a great exercise for everyone to see the benefit of mixed vet practice and it was something different for all involved” continued Mark.
Thanks to the teamwork from all departments at Cliffe Vets, the surgery was a success, and the alpaca was standing and walking again by that evening.
Cliffe Vets delivers exceptional postop care
Throughout the following weeks, Major was able to recover at home, while Kassie and Isabel carried out regular bandage changes.
By mid-February, Zoe Counter, Equine Vet, visited the client’s farm for a follow-up check and was happy to report that Major was recovering exceptionally well.
Cliffe Equine Vets shared their thoughts: “It’s incredibly rewarding for the whole team to see patients like Major thriving after treatment.
“This is a lovely reminder of what can be achieved through teamwork — from his surgery here at the equine hospital to the fantastic ongoing care from his dedicated owners at home.”
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