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The Digestive System of the Llama and Alpaca

The Digestive System of the Llama and Alpaca. Dr. Melissa Bruski Dr. Christine Malinowski. Normal Digestive System. Unique Characteristics Foregut fermentation Rumination. The Upper GI. Lips Tongue Nares. The Upper GI. Teeth Incisors Cheek Teeth Llamas vs. Alpacas.

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The Digestive System of the Llama and Alpaca

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  1. The Digestive System of the Llama and Alpaca Dr. Melissa Bruski Dr. Christine Malinowski

  2. Normal Digestive System Unique Characteristics • Foregut fermentation • Rumination

  3. The Upper GI • Lips • Tongue • Nares

  4. The Upper GI • Teeth • Incisors • Cheek Teeth • Llamas vs. Alpacas

  5. GI “Compartments” • Nomenclature = C1, C2, & C3 • C1 • Cranial sac • Caudal sac • C2

  6. GI “Compartments” • C3 • Tubular and glandular • pH changes • Permanent & nonpermanent folds • Contraction cycles • Duration ~2 minutes each

  7. Lower GI Components I’m supposed to eat this?? • Adaptions to poor feed • Urea recycling • Nutrient absorption • Overfeeding is dependent on the quality of forage

  8. Lower GI Components • Small intestine • Almost 12 m long • Cecum is midline running into pelvic inlet (10 cm x 5 cm) • Large intestine • Spiral w/ many coils • Diameter from 5 cm  2 cm • Colon

  9. Signs of GI Disease • anorexia • dysphagia • regurgitation • emesis • abdominal distension • ileus • atony • colic

  10. Anorexia • Internal factors • oral or pharyngeal ulcers • dental pain • colic • gastritis • External factors • unsuitable feed • psychologic ostracism

  11. Dysphagia • Presents as: • drooling of saliva • retention of feed in the oral cavity • fetid odor originating from the oral cavity • gagging/retching

  12. Dysphagia • Due to: • pharyngitis/esophagitis • pharyngeal abscesses or tumors • esophageal obstruction • stomach overload • bloat • congenital defects • choanal atresia • cleft soft palate

  13. Abdominal Distension • Causes: • excessive fat • excessive gas • accumulation of feces • advanced pregnancy • A thorough physical will help determine the cause. • A thorough rectal is not possible.

  14. Ileus • Dynamic • spastic • constriction around feces • paralytic • intrinsic disorder of GI motility • Mechanical • peritoneal adhesions • tumors • torsions • internal hernias

  15. Ileus • Post-operatively • peritonitis • ischemia • overstretching • ingesta • gas

  16. Regurgitation • May be voluntary • threat • defense • Esophageal or laryngopharyngeal stimulation • Passive • anesthesia • recumbancy

  17. Emesis • Due to the elongated soft palate it is very common for ingesta to pass into the nasal cavity. • rhinitis • obstruction • aspiration pneumonia • Causes: • C1 overload • gastritis • diaphragmatic hernia • partial esophageal obstruction • poisonous plant ingestion

  18. Stomach Atony • Usually affects C1-C2 • Causes: • grain overload • indigestion • feed changes • prolonged antibiotic therapy • spoiled feed • gastric ulcers • obstruction

  19. Stomach Atony • Presents as: • decreased or complete cessation of food consumption • loss of body condition • depression • may see other GI signs • Diagnosis: • Lack of C1 sounds

  20. Stomach Atony • Treatment: • treat primary disease • supportive care • 3-5 days of anorexia may cause death of rumen flora so transfaunation may become necessary.

  21. Transfaunation • 0.5-1L of camelid C1, or strained sheep or cow, rumen contents is administered to aid in regrowth of rumen flora.

  22. Colic • very stoic about pain • signs: • teeth grinding • rolling • kicking at belly • anorexia • depression • pained facial expression

  23. Ulcers • usually a secondary problem • most common in the acid secreting distal portion of C3 and proximal duodenum • may be partial or complete thickness

  24. Ulcers • Presents with: • decreased food consumption • intermittent to severe colic • depression • May also have: • secondary pneumonia • peritonitis

  25. Ulcers • Etiology: • unknown • stress?? • Diagnosis • no good pre-mortem test available

  26. Ulcers • Treatment: • Resolve primary problem • Stress reduction • Sucralfate • Omeprazole • H-2 blockers • cimetidine/ranitidine • Supportive • fluid therapy • prophylactic antibiotics

  27. Selected Bibliography • Fowler, Murray E., DVM. Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids: Llama, Alpaca, Vicuna, Guanaco, 1st edition. Ames: Iowa State University Press, 1989. • http://www.mazuri.com/llamalink.htm • http://www.purdyvet.com • http://www.merckvetmanual.com • Johnson, LaRue W. Update on llama medicine. Philadelphia : Saunders, 1994.

  28. ? ? Questions? ? ? ? ? ?

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