Questions - Camel Teeth

[camelidman]

Hi,
I have looked around the internet and have found several conflicting sources of information on this subject, so I thought I'd ask here.

My questions is:
At what age is it normal for camels to get their permanent back teeth? I have read that at one year they should have 4 cheek teeth on each side of the upper jaw and 3 cheek teeth on each side of the lower jaw, but I'm interested to know at what age in months they normally break the gums, and when they are long enough to be used on a regular basis?

Does anyone also know if we should be checking for any common alignment issues that could cause the camel problems?

Do males get fighting teeth like other camelids (long canines in ungelded animals)? If so, is it normal to saw them off?

Thanks in advance of any responses,
Jon

[3droms]

I have no idea about their teeth but I found some information in a book. These are the times when the teeth are supposed to appear.
Permanent teeth lower jaw:-
Pre-molar 1 - 6.5 to7.5 years
Pre-molar 2 - 5 to 5.5 years
Molar 1 - 12 to 15 months
Molar 2 - 2.5 to 3 years
Molar 3 - 5 to 5.5 years

Upper Jaw:-
Pre-molar 1 - 6.5 to7.5 years
Pre-molar 2 - 5 to 5.5 years
Pre-molar 3 - 5 to 5.5 years
Molar 1 - 12 to 15 months
Molar 2 - 2.5 to 3 years
Molar 3 - 5 to 5.5 years

Camels do have canine teeth which can grow large in males.

[camelsinfrance]

SOMEWHERE... in a box... I have an indepth analysis of camel teeth and all the info you need including illustrations - it won't be this week, but in the next few weeks I'll scan it all in and email it to you - interesting reading - as well as lots of fun inspecting them!!

[camelidman]

That's really great, thanks guys!
I look forward to seeing the info.

Also, strangely, the fighting teeth info is something I found no reference to on the internet. I found no reference to male specific tooth growth whatsoever, so I'm really grateful for the help. I wonder, do males present a threat to other animals when these teeth have grown? Do they have to be dealt with by their human companions by either removing at the root or sawing?

Thanks again,
Jon

[camel4ever]

Dioli, M. (2007). Pictorial Guide to Traditional Management, Husbandry and Diseases of the One-Humped Camel.

Is a photographic CD-ROM with 1000 captioned pictures on disease, husbandry, slaughtering, age determination etc etc of the camel. It is available on line at: www.lulu.com/content/759963.

You will have pictures of the various stages of tooth development and consumption from milk to permanent teeth including "tusk" the large canines of males.

Regards
Maurizio