Do Alpacas bit or spit like llamas?
Alpacas have a single bottom row of teeth and a hard upper palate for chewing grass. Because they have no upper teeth, alpacas cannot bite, although they can pinch. At approximately two years of age alpacas develop canine or “fighting” teeth. These teeth can be cut back periodically by your veterinarian, to avoid being used during natural behaviors to test fro dominance in the herd, such as neck wrestling. With regard to spitting, alpacas do spit. However, this spitting is typically reserved for other alpacas that crowd their space when eating or drinking. They have also been known to spit when they feel threatened, so be sure to wear clothes that are easy to clean on those special vet visits and shearing days. What diseases, if any, are Alpacas susceptible too? Alpacas have proven to be resilient to most large livestock diseases. Your alpacas should receive annual shots for tetanus, and can be vaccinated against the West Nile virus as well. Because alpacas have only been in North Amer
