Camelid Dentistry

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Camelid Dentistry
Stephen R. Purdy, DVM

Director of Camelid Studies
UMass Amherst
President Nunoa Project Peru
Learning objectives
To describe the normal dentition of
camelids
To explain common corrective dentistry
procedures in camelids
To explain treatments for cheek tooth
problems in camelids
Normal Camelid Dentition
Alpacas and llamas have 30 to 32 adult
teeth, which are all erupted by about six
years of age.
Incisors
six lower incisors are designed to contact the
front portion of the roof of the mouth, called
the dental pad.
Alpaca and vicuna incisors have enamel only
on the labial surface
llama and guanaco incisors have enamel on
both labial and lingual surfaces
Llama Incisors
Alpaca
Cheek teeth
5 top and
bottom on each
side
2 Premolars
3 Molars
M3
M2
M1
PM1 PM2
M3
M2
M1
PM2
Fighting Teeth
The upper third
incisor and
upper and lower
canine teeth are
C
called the
fighting teeth I3
Females CAN
have visible
fighting teeth. C
I3
Female fighting teeth
Corrective Dentistry
Concerned mainly with the incisors and
the fighting teeth in males.
The proper functioning of the incisors and
cheek teeth is the first step in the alpaca
and llama digestive process.
These teeth should be kept in optimal
condition for maximum efficiency.
Animals with bad bites should be carefully
considered as not suitable for breeding.
Incisor tooth problems
Camelids eating grass need to have a good incisor-
dental pad lineup in order to be able to efficiently
bite off the plants for chewing.
The ideal lineup has the tips of the incisors in
contact with the dental pad approximately one
eighth of an inch back from the front edge.
Very few camelids possess this ideal
conformation.
Most of these animals are able to survive since
they are raised in a noncompetitive environment.
Picking up hay is not a problem, even for
animals with mild to moderate underbites.
Long incisors should be trimmed off so
that they contact the dental pad at the
front edge at least.
This is most often done for cosmetic
reasons
It can be accomplished with minimal
restraint and/or sedation in a particularly
fractious animal.
may prevent efficient
grinding of food by
the molar teeth,
resulting in a
malnourished animal.
Retained deciduous
incisors should be
removed
may trap food
resulting in gum
disease
may prevent the
normal growth of
the permanent
incisors.
2 year old alpaca
Three common methods are used
to trim incisors
Gigli wire- used to remove the bulk of the tooth,
and then a file is used to provide a smooth, even
biting surface.
A one-foot length of rubber hose can be held in
the corners of the mouth across the top of the
tongue to keep the jaws part way open to
facilitate trimming.
Porcine mouth speculums may also be used to
keep the mouth open during trimming
Tooth-O-Matic ®
Dremel ® Tool
®
Fighting Teeth
All alpacas and llamas do not need to have
their fighting teeth trimmed.
If males are not aggressive fighters when
housed with other males, or are just not
housed with other males, the teeth can be left
alone.
Aggressive fighters often attack other males
around the face or ears or in the testicles, so
these animals should have their fighting teeth
trimmed.
Gigli wire or a Dremel tool are used to trim
these sharp teeth down to the level of the
gums
Cheek tooth problems
Not common
An animal that takes a long time to chew
grass or hay, or who spills grain while eating
may be having trouble with sharp edges.
Poor body condition can also be a sign of
dental problems.
If the animal strongly resists when pressure is
put on cheeks over these teeth, they may
have a problem with excessively sharp cheek
teeth.
This may be a difficult call in a high strung
animal
Cheek teeth should be filed if the other
problematic signs are observed.
The outside edges of the upper cheek teeth
and the inside edges of the lower cheek teeth
are easily blunted with miniature horse dental
floats or other thin files.
Most animals do not object to this procedure.
An immediate improvement in chewing is
observed in most instances.
I have done this 2 times in 18 years!
Camelid Jaw Abscesses
Common problems in mature animals
No sex predilection
May start when hay or other plant material
or wood is lodged between the tooth and
the socket
Have been called tooth root abscesses
May be asymptomatic until a draining tract
is discovered
Palpable enlargement of soft tissue and
mandible in area of the cheek teeth
weight loss and problems chewing in
advanced cases of long standing
Treating Jaw Abscesses
Medical treatment is best in my opinion.
Long term antibiotics
Isoniazid® at 6 mg/lb PO SID for 4 to 6
weeks
Very successful even in long term cases with
extensive bone remodeling
Soft tissue and bone distortion often disappears
Improvement usually seen within 1 week
Medical Treatment
Injectables
Procaine Pen G at 1 ml per 15 lbs BW SQ
SID for 30 days
Nuflor® at 6 ml/lb BW SQ every 3 days for 5
treatments
Long acting oxytetracycline at 9mg/lb SQ
every 3 days for 5 treatments
Flush any draining tracts daily with water/iodine

or chlorhexidine solution/hydrogen peroxide and
infuse with antiseptics such as Biozide® or
Nolvasan Suspension®
Surgical treatments
Open soft tissue over the draining/swollen

area
scrape the bone
flush until healed
Very painful
Avoid if possible
Radiograph cheek teeth and remove
those with evidence of tooth root damage
Avoid if possible
Mandible sometimes fractures during
surgery as the lateral jaw plate must be cut
and the tooth repelled out
?? Long term consequences of missing teeth
with respect to adjacent teeth and opposing
teeth??

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Veterinary Library

Stephen R. Purdy, DVM

Flush any draining tracts daily with water/iodine

Open soft tissue over the draining/swollen

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