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  Adaptions to poor feed  Urea recycling  Nutrient absorption  Overfeeding is dependent on the quality of forage I’m supposed to eat this??

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9. 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

10. Signs of GI Disease  anorexia  dysphagia  regurgitation  emesis  abdominal distension  ileus  atony  colic

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

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

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

14. 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.

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

16. Ileus  Post-operatively  peritonitis  ischemia  overstretching  ingesta  gas

17. Regurgitation  May be voluntary  threat  defense  Esophageal or laryngopharyngeal stimulation  Passive  anesthesia  recumbancy

18. 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

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

20. 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

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

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

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

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

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

26. Ulcers  Etiology:  unknown  stress??  Diagnosis  no good pre-mortem test available

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

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

29. Questions? ? ? ? ?? ? ?