Welfare


pregnant rabbits deficient in Vitamin A had a higher risk of giving birth to youngsters with dental defects. However, Vitamin A is plentiful in grass and green plants, so alpacas on grass are unlikely to become deficient. Vitamin C is important for dental health in guinea pigs. Calcium and Vitamin D have been suggested as factors, but their significance is unknown. Both are important in enamel production, and adequate levels may be particularly important around weaning time. Remember that too much of a particular mineral or vitamin can be as damaging as too little, so always check with your veterinary surgeon or nutritional advisor before giving extra supplements.


Figure 8: Misalignment or overgrowth of cheek teeth may need correction. The tooth marked with a blue X has become too long, resulting in the cheek teeth in front of it (marked with a green O) not meeting properly anymore with their counterparts. This is a fairly mild case, but is likely to worsen over time.


What can I do with regard to dental


disease? Make forage the mainstay of your alpaca’s diet. Alpacas are designed to eat loads of forage and I believe that it is important for tooth wear. The fibre in forage has been found to be very important for tooth health in rabbits and guinea pigs. The chewing of forage also stimulates saliva production,


producing a natural buffer to acids that can attack enamel. As mentioned above, a concentrate-rich diet can lead to caries and this is probably a result of lower saliva production and higher sugars. Be aware of the signs that can indicate dental disease


and, in particular, regularly feel along the jaw and tooth line for any pain, unevenness or swelling. If you do find something unusual, act promptly and treat aggressively. Thoroughly examine older alpacas for gum and tooth health at least once a year. Keep careful records of any breeding animals with an


incorrect bite to see whether they pass this trait on to their crias. If so, take them out of the breeding pool. Treat teeth with respect. This includes only trimming


Figure 9: Regularly inspect incisors, and feel along the cheek teeth (from the outside as shown here; photo courtesy of Caroline Champion).


Figure 10: Also regularly feel along the jaw line for any swelling, pain or discharge / crusts (photo courtesy of Caroline Champion).


when necessary, not as a matter of course (eg, at shearing). If you do have to trim, cut severely overgrown teeth in stages to avoid exposing the pulp. Preserve as much enamel as possible (remember, enamel cannot repair itself) and preserve the natural cutting surface. The tooth you are trimming may be loose, so take care not to dislodge it further. Trimming of cheek teeth should usually only be


considered if the alpaca is showing weight loss or difficulty in eating, or there is damage to the lining of the mouth. An exposed pulp is painful and at great risk of


becoming infected. Should you accidentally expose pulp, treat immediately with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories (under your vet’s guidance). Seriously consider having a proper dental repair carried out.


Please note that Karin is no longer based at Dick White Referrals. She is currently developing an information hub for camelids, and her webpage www. camelidworkshop.com will become live later in the summer. In the meantime, follow Karin on www. facebook.com/camelidworkshop.


Figure 11: Tooth or tooth root infections can cause a lot of destruction of the jaw. Once suspected, it is important to investigate promptly and to treat aggressively.


42 Alpaca Summer 2012


Karin continues to be available for workshops and seminars on alpaca and llama management and disease topics. Contact her at karin@camelid- workshop.com to discuss your special requirements or events in your region.


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