Monitor and manage
Usually manageable with good husbandry; involve your vet if it worsens.
Lower incisors that do not meet the upper dental pad, so they overgrow and make grazing difficult.
- Category
- Feet, legs & teeth
- Urgency
- Monitor and manage
Signs & symptoms
- Incisors sticking out past the dental pad
- Difficulty grazing short grass
- Weight loss
Related symptom guides: Weight Loss.
What causes it?
Undershot or overshot jaw (often inherited), injury or uneven wear.
Risk factors
- Certain bloodlines
How vets diagnose it
Oral examination.
Treatment
Periodic incisor trimming by a vet or experienced person.
Prevention
- Do not breed animals with marked jaw defects
Background
In orthodontics, a malocclusion is a misalignment or incorrect relation between the teeth of the upper and lower dental arches when they approach each other as the jaws close. The English-language term dates from 1864; Edward Angle, the "father of modern orthodontics," popularised it. The word derives from mal- 'incorrect' and occlusion 'the manner in which opposing teeth meet'.From Wikipedia — “Malocclusion”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Research & references
PubMed lists 1 peer-reviewed papers on this topic in camelids. The most relevant include:
- Dental disease in llamas and alpacas. Niehaus A The Veterinary clinics of North America. Food animal practice, 2009. PubMed 19460640 · DOI · cited 22×
Frequently asked questions
What is incisor Malocclusion in alpacas?
Lower incisors that do not meet the upper dental pad, so they overgrow and make grazing difficult.
What are the signs of incisor Malocclusion?
Incisors sticking out past the dental pad, difficulty grazing short grass and weight loss.
How do you prevent incisor Malocclusion?
Do not breed animals with marked jaw defects.
Is incisor Malocclusion an emergency?
Monitor and manage. Usually manageable with good husbandry; involve your vet if it worsens.
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.