Rabbit stomach: Animal model for experimental surgery Estómago de conejo: Modelo animal para cirugía experimental

Abstract

Experimental veterinary surgery on small animals -particularly dogs- has restrictions, mainly regarding affect; therefore it is necessary to have a model of the animal to perform such procedures. This model must have anatomic characteristics which homologate those of dogs, but it must also fulfill ease of use and handling. Being a species traditionally used in experimentation, rabbits could be an excellent animal model for this purpose. The goal of this study is to describe the anatomotopography of the stomach of the rabbit and then compare it with the dogs. Three elements were considered: 14 rabbits exposed to various conservation techniques for their later anatomical study, the instruments and supplies to develop such morphological study and a bibliographic record of anatomical parameters of the dog's stomach. The results of this essay show that rabbits have a stomach with a morphology, location and orientation similar to the one of a dog, varying on its relation to other anatomical