Male llamas have sharp-edged fighting teeth or fangs which may begin to erupt by two years of age. These teeth are along the side of the jaws about halfway back. There are two fangs on the upper jaw and one on the lower each side of the mouth. Llama fighting teeth have a very sharp point and sharp cutting edges front and back, much like a shark tooth. They represent a danger to other llamas and to humans, so they should always be removed or blunted. Some llama owners choose to have tooth removal done by their vet, but many feel that the procedure is simple enough to be considered a routine part of their herd management.

The most commonly used technique for removal of fighting teeth is to cut them off at the gumline using a flexible braided cutting wire knows as obstetrical of OB wire, available from your veterinarian. Special metal handles are available for gripping the ends of the OB wire, and if these are used a 24" length of wire is adequate. If no handles are available, the ends of the wire must be wound around your gloved hands or fingers, to allow a few extra inches.

Restrain the animal in a chute or by cross-tying from the cheek rings of a sturdy halter to two solid posts about 3-6' apart. A third lead line from the chin ring of the halter will provide additional control. If enough helpers are available one can firmly ear the animal. Carefully retract the lips on one side and hook the wire behind the forward upper fang. The fighting teeth are slightly curved backward, so the wire will find its proper position at the gumline as you pull the ends of the wire forward. the OB wire is designed to cut only hard tissues like bone or tooth without cutting soft tissue, so once the wire is in place the animal may be allowed to close his lips around it. Both ends of the wire should be directed forward out of the mouth, one end held in each hand. Draw the wire across the tooth by pulling first with one hand and then the other at a rate of about one stroke per second while maintaining a firm pull on the wire. Usually the fang will be cut off neatly at the gumline in about 15-20 seconds. There may be a little bleeding from abrasion of the gums, but this is no problem. Any sharp edges or points which remain can be smoothed with an ordinary metal file. Make sure that the sharp, severed crown of the tooth is out of the animal's mouth before going on to the single lower fang on the same side, and then the rear upper fang. Repeat the process on the opposite side. After one use the wire will coil when tension is released. This makes placement on subsequent teeth a bit more difficult, but the same piece of wire can be used on all six teeth and even reused on additional animals.

Fighting teeth can be cut off as soon as they have erupted even 1/4" and this is sound management policy. The teeth will continue to erupt until the animal is 4-5 years old, so put a reminder in your files to check the teeth of your males every 6 months and redo the procedure if necessary. Female llamas can get small fighting teeth. These erupt much later and usually are not removed.

Llama Herd Management ILA Educational Brochure#7; Authors: Paul and Sally Taylor; Cover Design: Patricial Waters. Paul and Sally Taylor have been llama breeders since 1975. Sally was one of four founding Directors of the International Llama Association, served on ILA's board from 1982 to 1985 and is Director of the International Llama Registry. In 1982 Paul retired from dentistry to devote full time to llama ranching. He has been an ILA Director, organized the first major registry for llamas in North America and was active in legislative and international political matters on behalf of ILA. The Taylors are respected authorities on llama care and management. In 1986 they co-produced the All About Llamas videotape series, and they have written many articles on herd management, breeding, birthing and care of newborn llamas.

For more information or to order additional copies contact: International Llama Association, P.O. Box 1891, Kalispell, MT 59903. Telephone: 406-257-0282 Fax: 406-257-8780; Email ILA@InternationalLlama.org or visit their site http://www.InternationalLlama.org; Updated, August 1994; Copyright © 1989 International Llama Association. This publication may be reprinted if done so in complete form and credit is given.