the digestive system of the llama and alpaca dr. melissa bruski dr. christine malinowski
TRANSCRIPT
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
GI “Compartments” Nomenclature = C1, C2, & C3 C1
Cranial sac Caudal sac
C2
GI “Compartments” C3
Tubular and glandular
pH changes Permanent &
nonpermanent folds
Contraction cycles Duration ~2
minutes each
Lower GI Components
Adaptions to poor feed Urea recycling Nutrient absorption
Overfeeding is dependent on the quality of forage
I’m supposed to eat this??
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
Signs of GI Disease anorexia dysphagia regurgitation emesis abdominal
distension ileus atony colic
Anorexia Internal factors
oral or pharyngeal ulcers
dental pain colic gastritis
External factors unsuitable feed psychologic ostracism
Dysphagia Presents as:
drooling of saliva retention of feed in
the oral cavity fetid odor originating
from the oral cavity gagging/retching
Dysphagia Due to:
pharyngitis/esophagitis pharyngeal abscesses or
tumors esophageal obstruction stomach overload bloat congenital defects
choanal atresia cleft soft palate
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.
Ileus Dynamic
spastic constriction around feces
paralytic intrinsic disorder of GI motility
Mechanical peritoneal adhesions tumors torsions internal hernias
Ileus Post-operatively
peritonitis ischemia overstretching
ingesta gas
Regurgitation May be voluntary
threat defense
Esophageal or laryngopharyngeal stimulation
Passive anesthesia recumbancy
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
Stomach Atony Usually affects C1-C2 Causes:
grain overload indigestion feed changes prolonged antibiotic
therapy spoiled feed gastric ulcers obstruction
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
Stomach Atony Treatment:
treat primary disease supportive care
3-5 days of anorexia may cause death of rumen flora so transfaunation may become necessary.
Transfaunation 0.5-1L of camelid
C1, or strained sheep or cow, rumen contents is administered to aid in regrowth of rumen flora.
Colic very stoic about pain signs:
teeth grinding rolling kicking at belly anorexia depression pained facial
expression
Ulcers usually a secondary
problem most common in the
acid secreting distal portion of C3 and proximal duodenum
may be partial or complete thickness
Ulcers Presents with:
decreased food consumption
intermittent to severe colic
depression
May also have: secondary pneumonia peritonitis
Ulcers Etiology:
unknown stress??
Diagnosis no good pre-mortem
test available
Ulcers Treatment:
Resolve primary problem
Stress reduction Sucralfate Omeprazole H-2 blockers
cimetidine/ranitidine
Supportive fluid therapy prophylactic antibiotics
Selected BibliographyFowler, 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.htmhttp://www.purdyvet.comhttp://www.merckvetmanual.com Johnson, LaRue W. Update on llama medicine.
Philadelphia : Saunders, 1994.
QuestionsQuestions??
?
?
?
??
?
?