This document discusses age determination in camels by examining their teeth. It notes that camel teeth erupt and develop at consistent ages. The most useful teeth for aging are the incisors, canines, and first premolar teeth. Examination involves looking for deciduous versus permanent teeth and noting wear patterns, as wear rates are influenced by the camel's environment. Diagrams illustrate typical tooth development and wear at ages including 9 months, 1.5 years, 3.5 years, and 15 years.

2. AGE DETERMINATION IN CAMEL
RCVetS, Lahore Dr. Qazi Muhammad Awais

3. AGE DETERMINATION
 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.

4. AGE DETERMINATION
 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 hood shed
down.
 It is usual for the examination to be
accompanied by vocal complaint and possibly
some regurgitation.

5. AGE DETERMINATION
 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.

6. AGE DETERMINATION

7. AGE DETERMINATION
 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.

8. AGE DETERMINATION
 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.

9. AGE DETERMINATION
 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.

10. AGE DETERMINATION
 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).

11. AGE DETERMINATION
 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

12. AGE DETERMINATION
 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.

13. AGE DETERMINATION
 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.

14. AGE DETERMINATION
Teeth at Nine Months

15. AGE DETERMINATION
Teeth at One and One Half Years

16. AGE DETERMINATION
Teeth at Three and One Half Years

17. AGE DETERMINATION
Teeth at Fifteen Years