A syndrome of dental abnormalities of sheep: I. Clinical aspects on a commercial sheep farm in the Wairarapa

Abstract

A syndrome of dental abnormalities in sheep is described. The features of the syndrome include excessive wear of deciduous incisor teeth, maleruption of permanent incisors associated with an osteopathy of mandibular bone, and the frequent formation of dentigerous cysts. Periodontitis of incisor teeth was present in some cases, and excessive incisor wear and premature tooth-loss were recorded in most sheep over 3 years old.

The syndrome has been recorded on a number of farms in the lower part of the North Island, but was probably exacerbated in the Wairarapa district by inclement weather during 1977 and 1978. Excessive wear of the incisor teeth of cattle was also recorded on the same farms that had the problem in sheep. The presence of low copper levels, determined by liver and blood analyses from affected animals, is discussed in relationship to the complex, and possibly nutritional, aetiology.