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Monday, September 29, 2008

[AlpacaTalk] Re: Teeth-REALLY Horrible Sounds

Thanks Heather,
I appreciate the input , like you I have always watched and listened to
my animals chewing and on shearing day everyone gets everything
looked at, cleaned and poked and trimmed and prodded .
So you know I wasn't trying to sound dumb, but one cria in eleven years
really had me worried he sounds like he's rubbing big sharp gravel
together when he chews. Thank you for mentioning the "horrible
grinding sounds" gave me some peace of mind.
The vet will be coming to geld a couple of fiber boys next week I think
I'll have him checked because I've never heard one this severe.

Really appreciate the input.
Deborah
Black Pearl Farm
Colbert, WA

--- In AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com, Heather Zeleny <alpacatalk@...> wrote:
>
> Generally, they do just have the two front teeth at birth, or soon
> after. In the following week or two, crias will cut their molars and
> begin making horrible grinding sounds wearing down the sharp edges. The
> rest of the incisors follow, of course, but honestly I have no idea
> what the timeline is. They definitely get the next two incisors while
> nursing, I'd say by two months. By a year they should have three sets
> of incisors, I don't have a number for when those erupt. By two years
> or so, they should be losing their first two incisors. As alpacas are
> mammals, these are deciduous teeth and there will be no cause for
> alarm. The following two sets of deciduous teeth will be replaced
> within the next year. For males, fighting teeth can begin to erupt
> around 2 years, but it can happen earlier. I had a 2 year old who had
> longer fighting teeth than his 3 year old buddy. They can appear
> seemingly out of nowhere, so it is important to keep an eye on them!
>
> I do look at all of our alpacas' teeth when I can. I don't catch them
> and open their mouths and count teeth, but when I see them eating (like
> always) or yawning, I do take a look to see what's going on. It's just
> something I tune into automatically, and I'd say I notice every one of
> our alpacas' mouths each and every day, and we have over 50. And I am
> especially cognisant of the boys' fighting teeth. They really are
> trouble and can cause serious injury. The best time to see is when
> they're yawning, that's how I notice most fighting teeth. So it just
> takes hanging around for a bit an looking nonchalant.
>
> Heather
>
> Heather Zeleny
> White Lotus Alpacas
> Creswell, OR
>
> 541.895.0964
>
> Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece
> http://www.whitelotusalpacas.com
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/AlpacaTalk/join
>

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