Hamsters and Gerbils - Digestive system

Hamsters and Gerbils - Digestive system

1. Continuously erupting incisors

   • orange pigmented enamel
     • I1/1 C0/0 Pm 0/0 M3/3
       • Born with incisors fully erupted and use them to grasp the nipple
         • mandible wider than maxilla

2. Cheek pouches

   • develop during 2nd week of life
     • developed from a solid cord of cells which disintegrate, creating cavities
   • lie just caudal to the area where the cheeks meet behind the incisors
   • can extend caudally to the ear canal
   • lined by stratified squamous epithelium and have a reduced immune system and lymphatic function - this can be a problem if they become infected

3. Stomach

   • hamster stomach environment is very different to rat and mice
   • proximal portion is the non glandular area - bacterial population which has limited microbial breakdown of food consumed
     • distal stomach is the glandular area and functions like a traditional stomach

4. Hamsters small intestine is 3-4 times its own body length

5. Hamster has an enlarged ceacum with 5 divisions to aid fermention of fibre and digestion

   • or may have a valvular function

6. gall bladder is present

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