|
|
|
 HINT:
Many of the photos on this site are linked to larger images. Just click on
any picture to see if there is a larger version available. |
|
| |
|
|
Tooth
care is an important part of an alpacas general health. When one
considers that proper functioning of an alpacas teeth is the first stage
of a healthy digestive process. So it is important to know when
your alpaca is having a problem and to have a qualified veterinarian
knowledgeable in dental anatomy
to care for the alpaca having the problem.
Alpacas generally have all their adult teeth by the time they have
reached age six. The total number of teeth varies between male and
female from 30 to 32 teeth. The male alpaca has two additional
teeth exposed and those teeth are called fighting teeth. The
female does not have, except on rare occasions, visible fighting teeth.
Alpacas have six lower incisors and no upper incisors. The lower
incisors are used to bite off plants and for chewing. They line up
with the dental pad (roof of the alpaca's mouth) making their eating
ability a highly efficient method for grass, hay, and plants.
If something should interfere with this process, as with our alpaca,
your alpaca may require some dental assistance from your vet. The
process requires minimal restraint of the alpaca and/or a sedative,
which is what Dr. Ty McConnell from Santa Cruz, used to help our alpaca get through this trauma.
In our alpaca's case she retained deciduous incisor (baby tooth) that
was preventing her adult teeth or permanent teeth, from taking their
normal placement.
Our alpaca under went this procedure because she had retained deciduous incisors and intervention was required.
Understand that this is not a common procedure. But is one that is necessary when it is determined that the baby teeth have remained under the gum line surface and is preventing the proper placement of the adult teeth. However, it is important for every alpaca owner to maintain a periodic check of their
alpaca's teeth in order to prevent health problems.
Warning Signs of an existing problem:
 | If
you alpaca takes a long time to chew grass or hay or, while eating,
spills grain. |
| Another
obvious sign is a poor body condition. If the diet is more
than adequate but the body condition does not exemplify this then
there could be a tooth problem. |
| If
your alpacas cheeks are pushed in, making contact with the teeth and
the alpaca reacts strongly, then the cheek teeth could be too
sharp. If you are new to owning alpacas it is wise to ask your
vet to check this. Some alpacas will react simply because they
are high strung animals already. If the cheek teeth are too
sharp the vet can easily blunt the edges of the teeth. |
|
|
Click
Photos to enlarge
Photos taken by and provide by Kathy Porter.
|
 |
Here
our alpaca is having her teeth checked. |
 |
Dr.
Ty McConnell, veterinarian
from Santa Cruz, administer a sedative. The alpaca rests
her head as it begins to take effect. |
 |
Before
extraction of the teeth causing the alpaca the problem, Dr.
McConnell loosens the gum line around the teeth. |
 |
Loosening
the gum line around the effected teeth can take some time.
Dr. McConnell continues his efforts before extracting the
problem teeth.
Loosening the gum line makes it easier to extract the tooth or
teeth that must be removed. Dr. McConnell spends some time
making certain the gum line is loose so the extraction is not a
traumatic event for the alpaca. |
 |
With
the sedative taking hold, Dr. McConnell removes the baby teeth
causing the problems. |
 |
One
tooth extracted. Next one to be removed.
Two teeth extracted, surgery over. |
 |
It
wasn't just work for Dr. McConnell, but the alpaca as
well. Here she rests her head as she begins to recover. |
| The following pictures are of an alpaca transitioning from baby teeth to adult teeth. It is not abnormal to see a double row of teeth or, one or more teeth retained while the new set of teeth come in. In fact, the
symmetry of the teeth and the entire bite can get quite gnarly during this time, yet no worries. Once the alpaca gets through this process, their adult teeth align nicely. Alpacas can go through this process up until they are about 4 1/2 years of age. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Click photo
to enlarge. |
|
|
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
