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AGEING
CAMELS BY EXAMINATION OF TEETH
Camel teeth erupt and then develop to reach
full size at approximately constant ages of the
animal. Some minor variation does exist and the
ages given in these notes are average
expectations.
The most convenient teeth for ageing purposes are
the incisors (front teeth), the canines and the
first of the premolars. The remaining teeth are
hidden by the cheeks. The camel has a narrow mouth
and, if the teeth within the cheeks need to be
properly examined, an oral speculum, or mouth gag,
and a light source may be required. Good restraint
is always necessary and, for the sake of safety and
expediency, it is best to examine the teeth with
the camel hooshed down. It is usual for the
examination to be accompanied by vocal complaint
and possibly some regurgitation.
Following full tooth development, wear commences.
The rate of wear is influenced by the camel’s
particular environment, which can influence the
amount of abrasive material contacted during
eating.
Incisor teeth: are the teeth that are across
the front of the mouth. Camels have six (2
centrals, 2 laterals and 2 corners) in the
lower-jaw, and only two corners in the upper jaw
that tend to be conical in shape. These upper
incisors are less well developed, or may be absent,
in adult females.
The camel’s first incisors are deciduous (also
called milk, or temporary teeth) and are replaced
by permanent incisors later. Deciduous incisors are
smaller than permanent incisors at all stages of
development and wear. Also, even when fully
developed, deciduous incisors have a distinct neck
towards gum level. Deciduous incisors often wear
down to become small, loose stumps prior to
shedding.
Canine teeth: are conically shaped teeth
(also called tusks or tushes) that develop in the
space between the corner incisor and the first
premolar tooth in both upper and lower jaws. They
are primarily fighting teeth and are usually larger
in males than in females. Deciduous canines are
later replaced by large, permanent canine
teeth.
Premolar teeth: are the most forward of the
grinding teeth set further back in the jaws and
within the camel’s cheeks. Premolar teeth are
all deciduous. The camel has three upper and three
lower premolars, but the first (the most forward)
lower one is generally not replaced by a permanent
tooth, while all the others are. The upper first
premolar is a cone shaped tooth (tending to be
tusk-like).
Molar teeth: develop behind the premolars
only as permanent teeth; they have no deciduous
precursors. The camel has three upper and three
lower molars on each side of the mouth.
Eruption: is when any part of a tooth has
just penetrated the gum. In some instances this may
be better felt than seen.
Illustration of deciduous and permanent
teeth: in the accompanying diagrams deciduous
teeth are left white. Permanent teeth are indicated
by some shading above the gum line.
NOTE - Severe wear normally seen in camels
at age 4.5 - 5 years can be confused with that seen
in very old camels. In the younger mouth the worn
down deciduous teeth will be seen as smaller stumps
and most, if not all, will be loose. In the older
camel the stumps will be larger and firm, and the
older camel’s gums may be yellowish rather
than pink. A golden rule is to look at the camel
before looking in the mouth - if the camel looks
young it probably is young.
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Teeth
at Nine Months
Eruption of central deciduous incisors occurs
at birth to 14 days, laterals at 4 - 5 weeks and
corners at 6 - 12 weeks, and, commencing with the
centrals, some wear may be occurring by 6 months.
Deciduous canines and upper premolars 1, 2 & 3
and lower premolars I & 2 are all obvious by 6
months. Upper deciduous corner incisors may have
shed from females by 12 months.
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Teeth
at One and One Half Years
A full set of deciduous teeth are present by
one year of age and all lower incisors are in wear.
All deciduous teeth are fully functional at
eighteen months. Upper and lower molar 1’s
(permanent teeth) erupt between 12 and 15 months
and are proud of the gums by 18 months.
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Teeth
at Three and One Half Years
At 2 - 2.5 years deciduous incisor teeth show
progressive wear and separation. Also, all molar
1’s come into wear at 2 - 2.5 years and all
molar 2’s are about to erupt.
At 3 - 3.5 years deciduous incisors are well
worn and separated and some may be loosening. and
all molar 2’s have erupted.
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Teeth
at Fifteen Years
At 4 years deciduous incisors have worn down to
small irregularly shaped, loose stumps.
At 4.5 - 5 years lower deciduous premolars
are shed and are usually not replaced. Permanent
central incisors erupt behind the deciduous stumps
(if latter still present).
At 5 - 5.5 years upper permanent premolars 2
& 3’s, and permanent lower premolar
2’s erupt. Deciduous lateral incisors are
shed. Upper and lower molar 1’s and 2’s
are in wear and molar 3’s about to erupt.
At 6 - 7 years upper corner permanent
incisors (not found in every camel), upper and
lower permanent canines and upper permanent
premolars have all become apparent. Permanent
central and lateral incisors are in wear, and lower
permanent corner incisors erupt and develop. All
upper and lower permanent premolars and molars are
in wear by 7 years.
At 8 years all permanent teeth are present
and in wear. Premolar 1’s, when present, are
darkly stained due to plaque and scale. Canines,
particularly in males, are large and powerful.
8 - 15 years sees progressive wear of the
teeth at a rate related to the food consumed and
its content of abrasives. Definite separation of
the permanent incisors usually commences at about
15 years.
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