Rabbit Digestive System

Rabbit Digestive System

1. Stomach

   • Strong cardiac sphincter which makes vomiting impossible
   • pH of stomach content 1.5-1.8

2. Small Intestine

   • 10-20% of the rabbits weight
   • single pancreatic duct empties into the duodenum
   • Total length is 2-3 feet in total
   • Ileum follows on from the jejunum and ends in the thickened spherical structure known as the sacculus rotundus

3. Caecum and Large Intestines

   • Sacculus rotundus is a common site for foreign body impaction
   • Ileocolic valve prevents movement of the gut contents into the sacculus rotundus AND back into the small intestine
     • At this point the caecum arises and is the first part of the gut viewed from a ventral laparotomy approach
       • Caecum has 3 main folds and ends in a blind ended thickened like projection known as the vermiform appendix
         • Large intestine itself arises from an area of the caecum known as the ampulla coli

4. Liver

   • Has 4 lobes
   • Main bile pigment is Biliverdin
   • Bilirubin is not a useful indicator of liver disease
   • Bile acid levels have proven to be a useful indicator of remaining liver function mass

5. Pancreas

   • One single pancreatic duct

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