1. Digestive System

2. Rabbit Digestion Monogastric Similar to a horse
Large cecum - “blind pouch” w/bacterial digestion
Reason rabbits can eat more high-quality roughage material than other small animals
Rabbits must maintain levels of bacteria in the cecum for digestive process and health
Rabbits eat undigested feces (coprophagy) to help bacterial action

3. Avian (Bird) Digestion
Unique system for breaking down the seed and food they eat.
Birds do not have teeth
Saliva is added to assist with swallowing, but very little breakdown of food occurs in the mouth.
Largest digestive organ for birds is the gizzard.
Grinds and crushes food before passing it into the small intestine.

4. Fish Digestion
Type of feed fish eat is largely determined by the type of teeth they have.
Some fish swallow prey whole while others chew up their food.

5. Digestive Process Food is broken down in the mouth (except birds)
Then, food moves to stomach (gizzard in birds)
Next, it is passed into the small intestine
Primary site for digestion/absorption of nutrients
Food passes from the small intestine into large intestine
Site of water absorption
Mucus is added to waste to aid in passage to exit of body (anus)