Is it possible to eat rabbit lungs. Rabbits are not only valuable fur (23 photos). Use in cooking and cooking secrets

Receptors and analyzers Having become familiar with the central and peripheral nervous systems and their physiological activities, it became necessary to find out how these systems, which lie inside the body, communicate with the external environment and respond to external

Animals with an incredibly amazing sense of taste

We think that as humans, we have a highly developed gustatory modality that helps us enjoy and savor a number of dishes. Think again how some animals have an amazing sense of taste that plays a vital role in their survival. Did You Know? When animals taste sweet things, it indicates an easy source of energy, while bitterness can be a sign of something poisonous. Nature has a unique ability to distinguish all creatures. Some animals have highly developed vision, while some have an amazing sense of smell, taste or touch. To each his own, these feelings are essential to our existence and survival. Smell and taste work together in most animals. The smell attracts them and the taste helps them to further inspect the element. The sense of taste helps animals stay away from poisonous substances and eat only nutritious food. Different taste buds play a role in determining or evaluating substances that an animal can eat. This article draws on some animals that have the power of making food so unique that it surpasses the tasting capabilities of us humans. The catfish has the most amazing sense of taste, as it has approximately 100,000 taste buds all over its body, including its fins and tail. The concentration of taste buds is greater on the long whiskers or tendrils that the catfish possesses. It mostly lives in dirty and murky water and prefers the bottom or dark areas in the water. Visibility in these waters is extremely low, so the very abundant taste buds help the catfish to detect the smallest quantities and find the exact position of their food. Scientists have found that catfish with poorly functioning taste buds cannot feed normally. Hence, this great palatability is vital to the existence and survival of catfish. cows
cows taste ranging from 25,000-35,000, which give them an excellent sense of taste―two to three times that of humans. Cows, herbivores, are thought to have many taste buds to help them distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous plants. These taste buds help them identify toxic and non-toxic plants and thus help them decide what is beneficial for them. Taste buds also help to dispose of toxic substances. Thus, they ingest good substances, and later, meditate at their leisure and digest the consumed food. rabbits
rabbits have about 17,000 taste buds that are found in the mouth and throat. Like humans, they too are able to distinguish between sweet, bitter, sour, and salty tastes. In the wild, they are also able to distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous plants. However, rabbits may lose this ability and can be picky eaters. Pigs
pigs have almost 15,000 taste buds on their tongues. They are omnivores and have been found to be programmed to eat just about anything that comes in front of them. It has been seen that pigs like savory tastes over sweet ones. Even their sense of taste is combined with their sense of smell. Having so many taste buds certainly gives them the advantage to help identify nutrients and stay away from possible toxins or poisonous substances. Octopus
An octopus has about 10,000 taste buds on each sucker. He possesses nearly 200 suckers on each of his eight arms. So, imagine the sensitivity that it gets to all the suckers and taste buds that it flaunts. These chemoreceptors combined with their highly developed octopus sensory sense helps to detect even small differences in the concentration and dilution of seawater. Octopuses are able to remember the taste of the food they eat and are therefore very selective about what they eat. Although they have a highly developed sense of taste, touch, and sight, they cannot hear. Squid
squids possess taste buds throughout their bodies and are more sensitive to taste than humans. This makes the squid sensitive to chemical disturbances and stimulants in the water. These taste buds are located on the suckers and the area around the mouth, and help the squid determine the edible nature of the food. These receptors also direct the squid to the exact position of their prey. The sense of taste works in close connection with the sense of smell and touch, which gives them an additional advantage. Together with very sensitive skin, they can detect trace amounts of differences in their surroundings. bees
Taste buds are present on their antennae, jaws and limbs in bees which help them detect the sweetness of the flower. Honey bees are able to distinguish between sweet, sour, bitter, and salty tastes; however, research is still being done as to how this happens. We know about the olfactory sensations and the developed communication systems of bees. According to Hugh M. Robertson (Professor of Entomology), bees have a mutually beneficial relationship with plants. Therefore, they do not need to defend themselves against toxins. As a result, taste and taste buds are less present in them compared to scent (smell) receptors. They use their sense of smell to find food. butterflies
butterflies possess chemoreceptors on their feet or paws. These taste buds relay information regarding the food source to their brain to make sure the food is good or bad. If so, only then does the proboscis spread and release enzymes to dissolve the food. The liquidated form of nutrients is then ingested through the proboscis. Different receptors help distinguish different types of food. These chemoreceptors also play an important role in finding a host plant to lay eggs. The woman will press on the plant to release the juice that she likes, with the particular spiky structures present on her feet. If a female finds plants suitable for her offspring and identifies the necessary chemicals in the plant's leaves, only then will she lay her eggs on the plants. flies
flies possess taste buds on their feet. A fly, after sitting on an edible product, will judge the taste of food with its first cell receptor. These taste buds determine whether food is edible or poisonous. The sweet taste is what most flies prefer. If they find something to eat, only then will the fly unfold its proboscis. At the end of the proboscis are labellar plates, which, again, have taste receptors to assess the nature of the food. If the fly finds the taste to be delicious, it opens the labellar plates to suck food through the proboscis. The food eaten is additionally assessed in the pharynx as well. Studies have shown that flies love sweet tastes and they hold back bitter tastes. Serpent
smell and taste are linked in reptiles. Reptiles possess a chemically sensitive organ called Jacobson's organ, which is believed to have the special ability to convert taste to smell in order to create awareness of its environment. Thus, snakes taste the air with their forked tongues. Air particles are collected on the tongue and processed by the Jacobson organ to locate likely mates during the mating season. This body helps them gather information about their prey. It is also an extra precaution provided by them which helps to detect predators by simply flicking their tongues. These were some of the animals that possess excellent gustatory powers. However, when combined with the olfactory ability, the sense of taste can be amazing and more savoring.

The composition of the milk of a rabbit, nutria, cow, goat, mare, pig

(averages)

In rabbits, the lactation period is 25 days after birth and more, which allows them to be used as nurses for other rabbits after their own jigging. A rabbit during lactation gives from 50 to 270 ml of milk daily, more often 100–200 ml. The separation of milk begins shortly before birth. Until about the 20th day, the milk production of rabbits gradually increases, from the 21st to the 25th day the amount of milk secreted remains unchanged, and then decreases. The highest milk production is usually distinguished by rabbits in the second round. In young females, this figure is about 1/3 lower than in adult females up to 2–2.5 years of age. Starting from the age of 3 years, the milk production of rabbits decreases sharply, although in some individuals it can persist until the age of 4 years.
Depending on the milk production of rabbits, the intensity of growth of rabbits and their health also change. The difference in the weight of 20-day-old pups with high and low milk production is at least 30%, and 60-day-old pups - 20%.
claws. These are horny curved tips covering the last, third, phalanges of the fingers. They, under the influence of muscles, can be drawn into the groove of the roller and move out of it. The claws are involved in the function of defense and attack, and with their help the rabbit can hold food and dig the ground.
Crumb. This is the base of the limbs. In addition to the support function, it is an organ of touch. The cushion of the crumb forms the subcutaneous layer of the skin.
Hair. The body of all animals is covered with hair. Hair is a spindle-shaped filament of stratified keratinized and keratinized epithelium. The part of the hair that rises above the surface of the skin is called the shaft, the part located in the dermis is called the root, it is surrounded by blood capillaries. The root passes into the bulb (the expanded part of the hair root), inside the bulb is the papilla of the hair. Hair growth occurs due to cell division of the bulb. Each hair has its own muscles that allow it to straighten, as well as sebaceous glands.
The coat of rabbits is heterogeneous. Hair is covering: guide, guard and down. There are also vibrissae. Covering hair protects down hair from unwanted mechanical impact, and down hair itself performs the function of protecting the body from the cold. Vibrissae are sensitive hairs that perform the function of touch.
Guide hair straight, spindle-shaped, long. They rise above the entire hairline, giving it a beautiful look. The coloration is mostly monochromatic.
Guard hair there are significantly more guides in number, but they are shorter and thinner. Such hair is either straight or curved. Their coloration is monophonic or zonal.
downy hair the shortest and thinnest, they form the bulk of the hairline (more than 90%). This hair has a wavy-curved shape, and their color is usually solid. The ratio of guard hairs to down hairs ranges from 1:20 to 1:65.
Vibrissae- These are long tactile hairs located on the skin in the area of ​​​​the lips, nostrils, chin and eyelids.
The most important indicator of the quality of the rabbit's hairline and, accordingly, the health of the animal, is the density, that is, the amount of hair per unit area of ​​​​the skin. The most dense hairline is on the rump (closer to the tail), less dense - on the sides and back. The nature of the hairline, that is, the length, thickness, composition and position of the hair in relation to the body, is a hallmark of the breed.
The rabbits are born naked, and on the 5th-7th day they develop a hairline 5-6 mm long, consisting of guard hairs and guiding hairs. By the 20-25th day, the primary hairline reaches its full development.
In rabbits, as in other animals, there is a change in the integument of the body, or molt. In this case, the hair or coat is completely or partially replaced (except for tactile hairs). During molting, the skin thickens, becomes looser, and the stratum corneum of the epidermis is often renewed.
Distinguish between physiological and pathological molting. The physiological change of coat is divided into 3 types:
› age (primary soft hair is replaced by coarser spinous): the first age molt at the age of 1 month, the second - at 3.5–4.5 months, the third - at 7–7.5 months;
› seasonal (spring and autumn), which must be taken into account when putting on fattening and slaughtering rabbits;
› compensatory (formation of hairline at the site of damage or destruction of hair).
Pathological molting is an unmotivated change of hair as a result of illness, improper feeding conditions or the maintenance of an animal.
At the time of molting, rabbit fluff falls out easily. This is especially useful for those who raise downy rabbits. The fluff is plucked from them every 2–2.5 months.
At the time of slaughter, rabbits should have completed their age or seasonal molt.

Nervous system

This system carries out the morphofunctional integration of body parts, the unity of the body and the environment, and also ensures the regulation of all types of body activity: movement, respiration, digestion, reproduction, blood and lymph circulation, metabolism and energy.
The structural and functional unit of the nervous system is a nerve cell - a neurocyte - together with gliocytes. The latter dress nerve cells and provide support-trophic and barrier functions in them. Nerve cells have several processes - sensitive tree-branching dendrites that conduct to the body of the neuron the excitation that occurs at their sensitive nerve endings located in the organs, and one motor axon, along which the nerve impulse is transmitted from the neuron to the working organ or another neuron. Neurons come into contact with each other using the ends of the processes, forming reflex circuits through which nerve impulses are transmitted (propagated).
The processes of nerve cells together with neuroglial cells form nerve fibers. These fibers in the brain and spinal cord make up the bulk of the white matter. From the processes of nerve cells, bundles are formed, from groups dressed in a common sheath, nerves are formed in the form of cord-like formations.
Anatomically, the nervous system is divided into central, including the brain and spinal cord with spinal ganglia, and peripheral, consisting of cranial and spinal nerves connecting the central nervous system with receptors and effector apparatuses of various organs. This includes the nerves of skeletal muscles and skin - the somatic part of the nervous system, as well as blood vessels - the parasympathetic part. These last two parts are united by the concept of "autonomous, or autonomic, nervous system."
Central nervous system. The brain is the head part of the central part of the nervous system, it is located in the cranial cavity and is represented by two hemispheres with convolutions separated by a groove. The brain is covered with a cortical substance, or bark.
The following sections are distinguished in the brain: cerebrum, telencephalon (olfactory brain and cloak), diencephalon (optic tubercles (thalamus), epithalamus (epithalamus), hypothalamus (hypothalamus) and perituberosity (metathalamus), midbrain (cranial peduncles and quadrigemina), rhomboid brain, hindbrain (cerebellum and pons) and medulla oblongata, responsible for different functions. Almost all parts of the brain are involved in the regulation of autonomic functions (metabolism, blood circulation, respiration, digestion). Respiratory centers are located in the medulla oblongata and blood circulation, and the cerebellum coordinates movements, muscle tone and balance of the body in space.The main elementary manifestation of the activity of the brain is a reflex (the response of the body to irritation of receptors), that is, obtaining information about the result of a perfect action.
The brain is dressed in three layers: hard, arachnoid and soft. Between the hard and arachnoid membranes there is a subdural space filled with cerebrospinal fluid (its outflow is possible into the venous system and into the lymph circulation organs), and between the arachnoid and soft shells there is a subarachnoid space. The brain consists of white matter (nerve fibers) and gray matter (neurons). The gray matter in it is located on the periphery of the cerebral cortex, and the white matter is in the center.
The brain is the highest part of the nervous system that controls the activity of the whole organism, unites and coordinates the functions of all internal organs and systems. In case of pathology (trauma, tumor, inflammation) there is a violation of the functions of the entire brain, which is expressed in a violation of movement, a change in the functioning of internal organs, a violation of the behavior of the animal, a coma (lack of the animal's reaction to the environment).
The spinal cord is part of the central part of the nervous system, which is a cord of brain tissue with the remnants of the brain cavity. It is located in the spinal canal and starts from the medulla oblongata and ends in the region of the 7th lumbar vertebra. Its mass in a rabbit is 3.64 g.
The spinal cord is conditionally subdivided without visible boundaries into the cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral regions, consisting of gray and white medulla. In the gray matter there is a number of somatic nerve centers that carry out various unconditioned (innate) reflexes, for example, at the level of the lumbar segments there are centers that innervate the pelvic limbs and the abdominal wall. The gray matter is located in the center of the spinal cord and is shaped like the letter "H", while the white matter is located around the gray.
The spinal cord is covered with three protective membranes: hard, arachnoid and soft, between which there are gaps filled with cerebrospinal fluid. Veterinarians may inject into this fluid and the subdural space, depending on the indications.
Peripheral nervous system- a topographically distinguished part of a single nervous system, which is located outside the brain and spinal cord. It includes cranial and spinal nerves with their roots, plexuses, ganglia and nerve endings embedded in organs and tissues. So, 31 pairs of peripheral nerves depart from the spinal cord, and only 12 pairs from the brain.
In the peripheral nervous system, it is customary to distinguish 4 parts - somatic (connecting centers with skeletal muscles), sympathetic (associated with smooth muscles of the vessels of the body and internal organs), visceral, or parasympathetic, (associated with smooth muscles and glands of internal organs) and trophic (innervating connective tissue).
autonomic nervous system has special centers in the spinal cord and brain, as well as a number of nerve nodes located outside the spinal cord and brain. This part of the nervous system is divided into:
› sympathetic (innervation of the smooth muscles of blood vessels, internal organs and glands), the centers of which are located in the thoracolumbar region of the spinal cord;
› parasympathetic (innervation of the pupil, salivary and lacrimal glands, respiratory organs, organs located in the pelvic cavity), its centers are located in the brain.
A feature of these two parts is the antagonistic nature in providing them with internal organs, that is, where the sympathetic nervous system acts excitatory, the parasympathetic - depressing.
The central nervous system and the cerebral cortex regulate all higher nervous activity of the animal through reflexes. There are genetically fixed reactions of the central nervous system to external and internal stimuli - food, sexual, defensive, orientation, sucking reaction in newborns, the appearance of saliva at the sight of food. These reactions are called innate, or unconditioned, reflexes. They are provided by the activity of the brain, the spinal cord stem and the autonomic nervous system. Conditioned reflexes are acquired individual adaptive reactions of animals that arise on the basis of the formation of a temporary connection between the stimulus and the unconditional reflex act.
Compared to other farm animals, rabbits are more shy. They are especially afraid of sudden strong sounds. Therefore, handling them should be more careful than with other animals.

Sense organs or analyzers

Various excitations coming from the external environment and internal organs of the animal are perceived by the sense organs and then analyzed in the cerebral cortex.
An animal has 5 sense organs: olfactory, gustatory, tactile, visual, and auditory-equilibrium analyzers. Each of these organs has departments: peripheral (perceiving) - receptor, middle (conducting) - conductor, analyzing (in the cerebral cortex) - brain center. Analyzers, in addition to general properties (excitability, reactive sensitivity, aftereffect, adaptation and contrast phenomenon), perceive a certain type of impulses - light, sound, thermal, chemical, temperature, etc.
Smell- the ability of animals to perceive a certain property (smell) of chemical compounds in the environment. Molecules of odorous substances, which are signals of certain objects or events in the external environment, together with air reach the olfactory cells when they are inhaled through the nose (during food - through the choanae).
The olfactory organ is located in the depths of the nasal cavity, namely in the common nasal passage, in its upper part, a small area lined with olfactory epithelium, where receptor cells are located. The cells of the olfactory epithelium are the beginning of the olfactory nerves, through which excitation is transmitted to the brain. Between them are supporting cells that produce mucus. On the surface of the receptor cells there are 10–12 hairs that react to aromatic molecules.
The sense of smell in rabbits is much more developed than vision. This is confirmed by the fact that when alien rabbits are planted with a rabbit, their color does not matter at all, since only by smell can the mother distinguish strangers and destroy them. By smell, rabbits also distinguish food. They treat new food with caution, sniffing for a long time. It takes patience to accustom animals to them. The rabbit, when moving forward, sniffs everything that comes his way, and constantly keeps his nose up, catching the slightest change in the state of the atmosphere around him. He is able to feel the faintest traces of this or that smell. This provides the animal with invaluable help not only when looking for food or a mating partner, but also when orienting in an unfamiliar area, determining the social status of fellow tribesmen and recognizing friends and enemies.
The sense of smell is disturbed during inflammatory and atrophic processes in the nasal mucosa and damage to the central parts of the olfactory system, which is manifested by increased sensitivity to odors (hypersomia), decrease (hyposomia) and loss (anosomia).
Taste- analysis of the quality of various substances entering the oral cavity. The taste sensation arises as a result of the action of chemical solutions on the chemoreceptors of the taste buds of the tongue and oral mucosa. This creates a sensation of bitter, sour, salty, sweet or mixed taste. The sense of taste in newborns awakens before all other sensations.
taste buds contain taste buds with neuro-epithelial cells and are located mostly on the upper surface of the tongue, and are also located in the oral mucosa. In shape, they are of three types - mushroom-shaped, roller-shaped and leaf-shaped. From the outside, the taste receptor is in contact with food substances, and the other end is immersed in the thickness of the tongue and is connected to nerve fibers. Taste buds do not live long, die off and are replaced by new ones. They are unevenly distributed over the surface of the tongue, in certain groups, and form taste zones that are sensitive mainly to certain substances.
Well-developed taste abilities are indispensable for survival in the wild. With their help, rabbits can successfully avoid foreign toxic impurities in food. The slightest taste or olfactory change in a piece of food is enough for these animals to consider it dangerous.
Touch- the ability of animals to perceive various external influences (touch, pressure, stretching, cold, heat). It is carried out by receptors of the skin, musculoskeletal system (muscles, tendons, joints, etc.), mucous membranes (lips, tongue, etc.). So, the most sensitive skin is in the area of ​​the eyelids, lips, as well as the back, forehead. The tactile sensation can be diverse, as it arises as a result of a complex perception of the various properties of the stimulus acting on the skin and subcutaneous tissues. Through touch, the shape, size, temperature and consistency of the stimulus, as well as the position and movement of the body in space, are determined. It is based on the stimulation of special structures - mechanoreceptors, thermoreceptors, pain receptors - and the transformation in the central nervous system of incoming signals into the appropriate type of sensitivity (tactile, temperature, pain or nociceptive).
Many pathological processes are accompanied by a pain reaction. Pain signals an emerging danger and causes a defensive response aimed at eliminating sharp stimuli. Therefore, the absence of this kind of reaction in various injuries is an alarming sign.
In rabbits, as in cats, vibrissae act as a kind of probes that record changes in the surrounding space. Sensitive whiskers help rabbits navigate in complete darkness, such as through underground passages. Long vibrissae are also located above the eyes of rabbits, thanks to which these relatively large animals know when to bend their heads or deviate to the side so as not to run into an obstacle.
Vision- the ability of the organism to perceive objects of the external world by capturing the emitted or reflected light. It allows, based on the analysis of the physical phenomena of the surrounding world, to organize expedient vision. Rabbits have color vision. The process of vision in vertebrates is based on photoreception - the perception of light by the photoreceptors of the retina - the organ of vision.
The eye consists of the eyeball, connected by the optic nerve to the brain, and auxiliary organs. The eyeball itself is spherical in shape, it is located in the bone cavity - the orbit, or orbit, formed by the bones of the skull. The anterior pole is convex, while the posterior pole is somewhat flattened.
The eyeball consists of the outer, middle and inner membranes, light-refracting media (the lens and the contents of the anterior, posterior and vitreous chambers of the eye), nerves and blood vessels.
Auxiliary organs of the eye - eyelids (cutaneous-muco-muscular folds located in front of the eyeball and protecting the eye from mechanical damage), the lacrimal apparatus (the lacrimal secret is formed and accumulates there, consisting mainly of water and containing the enzyme lysozyme, which has a bactericidal effect; when the eyelids move, tear fluid moisturizes and cleanses the conjunctiva), ocular muscles (ensure the movement of the eyeball in different directions within the orbit), orbit, periorbita (location of the back of the eyeball, optic nerve, muscles, fascia, vessels and nerves) and muscle fascia . The location of the eyeball is called the orbit, and the periorbit is the place where the seven eye muscles are located.
Rabbits have large bulging eyes that are well adapted to active life at dusk, while they are able to perceive objects that are at a considerable distance from them quite sharply.
Hearing- the ability of animals to perceive and analyze the sound vibrations of the environment, which is carried out when sound is picked up by such an organ as the ear. This is a complex set of structures that provide the perception of sound, vibration and gravitational signals. It consists of the outer, middle and inner ear.
In rabbits, as in most mammals, sound vibrations, passing through the auricle and external auditory meatus (outer ear), cause vibrations of the tympanic membrane, which are transmitted through a system of articulated bones (middle ear) into liquid media (the so-called perilymph and endolymph ) cochlea of ​​the inner ear. The resulting hydromechanical oscillations lead to oscillations of the cochlear septum with the receptor apparatus located on it, which convert the mechanical energy of oscillations into excitation of the auditory nerve and, accordingly, to auditory sensation.
Rabbits have large ears, thanks to which animals have excellent hearing. They can perceive even the weakest sound signals. For example, females of these rodents are able to perceive the extremely quiet squeak of newborn rabbits. At the same time, rabbits can differentially perceive both aggressive sounds made by adult animals during a fight and sound signals indicating their peaceful mood or calls for mating. At the same time, the animals turn their ears in all directions in order to better catch the sound. Between themselves, these animals are explained by high-frequency sounds that are outside the range of human auditory perception.
The excellent acoustic abilities of rabbits, together with an excellent sense of smell, are the most important means for them in assessing the environment.
When the auditory system is damaged in animals, the ability to distinguish between certain sound parameters, the sound sequence and the position of the sound source in space is impaired.
Equilibrium- the ability of animals to perceive changes in the position of the body in space, as well as the effects on the body of acceleration and changes in gravitational forces. It is represented by the vestibular apparatus, the receptor part of which is located in the inner ear in the form of semicircular canals. The signals coming from the balance receptors associated with the position of the body or with acceleration arise with mechanical irritation of the sensitive hairs located there. The combination of sensory signals from channels, eyes, muscle, joint and skin receptors causes statokinetic reflexes, as a result of which the animal maintains normal orientation (the ability inherent in animals to determine their position in space, among individuals of the same or other species) in relation to the direction of gravity and counteract acceleration in all planes. These reflex reactions occur with the participation of the spinal cord and lower parts of the brain.
Balance disorders in animals are observed in a number of diseases of the nervous system in the form of impaired coordination of movements and loss of orientation in space.

Endocrine glands

Endocrine glands include organs, tissues, groups of cells that secrete hormones into the blood through capillary walls - highly active biological regulators of metabolism, functions and development of the animal body. There are no excretory ducts in the endocrine glands.
In the form of organs, there are the following endocrine glands: pituitary gland, pineal gland (pineal gland), thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, pancreas, adrenal glands, gonads (in males - testes, in females - ovaries).
Pituitary lies at the base of the sphenoid bone and secretes a number of hormones: thyroid-stimulating (stimulates the development and functioning of the thyroid gland), adrenocorticotropic (enhances the growth of cells of the adrenal cortex and the secretion of hormones in them), follicle-stimulating (stimulates the maturation of follicles in the ovary and the secretion of female genital organs, spermatogenesis (formation sperm cells) in males), somatotropic (stimulates tissue growth processes), prolactin (takes part in lactation), oxytocin (causes contraction of the smooth muscles of the uterus), vasopressin (stimulates the absorption of water in the kidneys and an increase in blood pressure). Violation of the functioning of the pituitary gland causes gigantism (acromegaly) or dwarfism (nanism), disorder of sexual abilities, exhaustion, loss of hair, teeth.

The rabbit is a popular farm animal, a source of valuable tasty meat and fur, and in recent years a common companion animal. For all their virtues, rabbits remain the most vulnerable pets in relation to various diseases, both infectious and other nature. Gastrointestinal ailments are especially common.

The structure of the digestive system of a rabbit

The rabbit has an increased length of the digestive tract compared to predators and omnivores, which allows better digestion of plant foods rich in fiber. The digestive system begins with the mouth, which contains the teeth and tongue. Powerful incisors and well-developed molars allow you to grind hard vegetables, grass, hay and plant seeds. The total number of teeth is 28, of which 22 are molars, or painters 6 are incisors (4 upper and 2 lower). The teeth are devoid of enamel, the dentin is easily worn down on solid food. To compensate for the grinding of dentin, teeth grow throughout life.

Important! With a lack of solid food, the teeth, especially the incisors, can reach pathologically large sizes, and will prevent the animal from chewing. This will lead to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

The salivary glands are well developed, the tongue is powerful and has many taste buds. In a healthy rabbit, the tongue and gums are pink, but with diseases, their color may change. Saliva contains enzymes that break down maltose and starch. In the mouth, food is crushed, moistened, and sent to the pharynx, followed by the esophagus. The esophagus carries food to the stomach, which is shaped like a horseshoe-shaped bag. Most of the stomach is located on the right side, from the axis of symmetry of the body of the animal. The stomach has a volume of up to 200 milliliters.

For the normal functioning of the stomach, the food that enters it must be crushed in the oral cavity to the state of gruel. The stomach has only one chamber, its walls secrete juice containing hydrochloric acid and enzymes that break down protein. Also in the stomach, digestion of carbohydrates continues, which began in the oral cavity under the action of saliva. Digested food is in the stomach from 3 to 10 hours, after which, thanks to peristalsis and pushing with new masses of food, it enters the duodenum - the first section of the intestine. The intestines of rabbits are long, 10-12 times longer than the body.

The ducts of the liver and pancreas open into the duodenum, followed by a long thin, then the ileum. Rabbits have a long and well developed caecum. Here, the so-called caecotrophs are formed, which make up the nocturnal feces of rabbits. Cecotrophs are a collection of bacteria that take part in the digestion of plant foods rich in cellulose. Cecotrophs are formed mainly at night and are excreted along with excrement. Lacking bacteria, rabbits sometimes eat them to make up for the deficiency. Cecotrophs also contain many useful substances, including vitamins and amino acids.

After digestion, food turns into daily feces in the form of dense crumbling grains, which is excreted through the rectum (about 200 g per day).

An important feature of the rabbit intestine is the weakness of the muscles responsible for peristalsis. In order for the dense mass of digestible food and feces to move forward, the rabbit must constantly consume new food, otherwise stasis occurs (see below).

Causes and symptoms of bloating in rabbits

The cause of bloating can be a disease of almost any segment of the digestive tract, from the oral cavity to the rectum.

Treatment of bloating in rabbits

Bloating is treated in the following ways:

• Massage. The rabbit is laid on its back. If the animal is tame, you can put it on your lap. Then the stomach is massaged, stroking from top to bottom with such force that the animal does not feel pain. The massage is repeated every two hours until the rabbit feels better (until the stool is restored);

• Enema. It is made with warm (but not hot) clean water. You can add a laxative (preferably in mineral oil) or magnesium sulfate (the so-called Epsom salts) - a tablespoon per liter;
• Espumizan is a "human" medicine specifically for bloating. It is instilled into the rabbit's mouth once a day at the rate of 20 drops per kilogram of weight;
• Pain injections are administered by a professional veterinarian.

Video - How and how to treat a rabbit with indigestion and bloating

Diet option for bloating

There is an opinion that when bloating, a rabbit should be put on a diet, completely stopping food for up to 10-15 hours. At the same time, water can be given, but little by little. In the future, it is recommended to give cold chamomile tea instead of water, which has antiseptic properties, and start feeding the animal with high-quality hay with a small addition of fresh mint and / or lemon balm. These herbs will reduce pain. Grated carrots and other vegetables can be given after 2-3 days, when the swelling subsides. And only after a week the pet will be able to return to normal nutrition.

This diet option is controversial because the rabbit need consume new food for the normal promotion of chyme and the prevention of stasis, so before limiting the animal in food, consult a veterinarian.

Gastrointestinal infections

Rabbits are very vulnerable to infectious diseases of a viral or bacterial nature, which can lead to symptoms similar to those of bloating. Often such diseases lead to the death of the animal. The most common and dangerous of these infections is coccidiosis, there are also lesions with rotavirus, and colibacillosis caused by common E. coli is considered especially dangerous.

Table 1. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Attention! Infections cause diarrhea, secretion of blood mucus from the anus, fever. Pay attention to this and if you have symptoms of an intestinal infection, take your pet to the veterinarian. Healthy animals have a body temperature of 38.3-39.5.

Gastrointestinal stasis

Stasis is a state of the body in which digested food (chyme) and feces do not move through the digestive tract. Digestion of food thus stops, nutrients cease to flow into the blood, and various putrefactive bacteria multiply in the chyme, which can penetrate the intestinal wall into the blood or abdominal cavity, causing sepsis. Therefore, stasis is a potentially life-threatening condition for the animal.

Stasis is usually caused by insufficient intake of food rich in cellulose in the gastrointestinal tract. Because rabbits have weak peristalsis, only pushing the chyme with new portions of food with fiber can bring the animal out of this state.

Video - Gastrointestinal stasis in a rabbit

Stasis symptoms

The signs of stasis are as follows:

• Apathy;
• Unnatural posture (hunched back);
• Loud rumbling in the stomach;
• Cessation of stool or reduction in size of fecal balls;
• The animal clangs its teeth (a sign of severe pain).

An unnatural position of the body is a sign of pain or other unpleasant sensations arising from the disease.

Stasis treatment

Treat stasis by changing the diet, force-feeding. The rabbit really needs fresh vegetables, such as carrots. Cabbage can be harmful, because. promotes bloating. If the rabbit does not want vegetables, parsley and mint will help. The smelling grass stimulates the animal's appetite. If this is not enough, put a piece of grass in his mouth. The abundance of taste buds makes a rabbit's tongue very sensitive, and a familiar taste will quickly trigger digestive reflexes.

Other measures also help:

• belly massage;
• Enema;
• An abundance of drink;
• Medications (cerucal - 1 tab. per day, simethicone - 2 ml every hour), dry lactobacilli acidophilus;
• Cecotrophs of a healthy counterpart.

Carefully! Rabbits are shy animals that do not tolerate stress well. It is important that during massage or force-feeding the animal does not experience shocks, otherwise this will affect its health in the future.

Features of feeding with gastrointestinal stasis

With stasis, it is desirable to exclude:

• Soft vegetables and fruits;
• Any rotten food;
• beans;
• Lucerne;
• White cabbage.

On the contrary, you can and should give the rabbit:

• odorous herbs;
• red cabbage;
• Carrot;
• beets;
• Caecotrophs;
• Hay.

Be careful! Do not let the rabbit eat caecotrophs of sick fellows, because. this contributes to additional infection of the pet.

Prevention of stasis and swelling

The best prevention of stasis and bloating is an active lifestyle. Let your animal run, frolic, do not lock it in a cramped cage without the possibility of movement.

Also, do not allow to experience strong emotions and stress (for example, another animal, loud screams, fire, etc. can scare a rabbit).

Table 2. Approximate diet of female rabbits (grams / day).

Keep track of your pet's health: teeth, mood, appetite, posture in which the animal is at rest. If there are signs of stasis or bloating, be sure to take your temperature (fever is a sign of infection and a reason to visit the veterinarian).

Provide access to high-fiber foods (hay and hard vegetables).

In the videos below, experienced rabbit breeders will talk about the features of feeding their pets in winter and making their own feed:

Video - Features of feeding in winter.

Video - Preparation of feed for rabbits.

Conclusion

Thus, rabbits are animals prone to gastrointestinal diseases of various nature. Their peristaltic muscles are weak, and in the absence of a constant influx of new chyme rich in cellulose, the movement in the gastrointestinal tract of the animals stops, and stasis occurs.

No less common are infectious diseases, the diagnosis and treatment of which requires a visit to the veterinarian.

To prevent bloating and stasis, the rabbit should move a lot and eat plenty of hay and/or hard vegetables. To prevent infections, isolation of the animal from the source of infection, feeding with washed food and boiled water will help. The cage of a sick rabbit must be cleaned and disinfected, and its caecotrophs must be thrown away so that they are not eaten by other rabbits or by itself.