TOOTH ROOT ABSCESSES IN NEW-WORLD CAMELIDS - 23 CASES (1972-1994)

Objective-To determine typical clinical and radiographic findings in a group of New World camelids with tooth root abscesses and to determin e outcome after medical and surgical treatment. Design-Retrospective c ase series. Animals-23 llamas and alpacas with radiographic and clinic al evidence of tooth root abscesses. Procedure-Disease history, signal ment, physical and radiographic examination findings, bacteriologic cu lture results, treatment, and short-term and longterm outcome were ret rieved from the medical records. Results-Local swelling was the most c ommon clinical abnormality in camelids with tooth root abscesses. Mand ibular molars were affected most commonly, and bacteriologic culture o f samples from lesions often revealed facultative anaerobic bacteria. Antibiotic treatment for at least 30 days, surgical extraction of the affected tooth, and a root canal procedure were used successfully to t reat tooth root abscesses. Clinical Implications-Both surgical and med ical treatment of tooth root abscesses may lead to successful resoluti on of clinical signs in New World camelids.