Why Can’t Rats Vomit?
WouterIf you have ever seen a rat upchucking its lunch, you’re not the only animal in the animal kingdom that has a hard time controlling its bowel movements. You’ve probably also heard of other animals like squirrels or fish throwing up their food. Luckily, rat vomiting is much rarer, thanks to their gastrointestinal sphincter and crural sling.
In addition to the structure of their stomachs, rats also don’t have a normal gag reflex. Rats have a small diaphragm, which separates their chest cavity from their abdomen. When they vomit, the diaphragm contracts and forces the contents of their stomach out through their mouth. Because of this, the stomach contents aren’t able to be pushed back up into the mouth or throat.
Rats’ stomachs are divided into four parts: the fundus (upper), the body (middle), and the pylorus (lower). The body is where most of the digestion and absorption of nutrients take place. The antrum, the bottom part, is connected to the pylorus.
Another theory for why rats don’t vomit is because they lack the stomach structure that allows them to push the contents up the throat. This may be the reason that rat poison is so effective in killing rats. Rats also have a one-way sphincter that prevents them from experiencing heartburn.
