Transcript Signs of GI Disease

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
 Cranial
sac
 Caudal sac
 C2
= C1, C2, & C3
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


paralytic


constriction around feces
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:


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



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:
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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 Bibliography
 Fowler, 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.htm
 http://www.purdyvet.com
 http://www.merckvetmanual.com
 Johnson, LaRue W. Update on llama medicine.
Philadelphia : Saunders, 1994.
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