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.

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