Body’s Cleansers Endocrine This is a system made up of glands that handle the body’s homeostasis, or the balance of an animal’s body functions and health. It is the body’s thermostat. The endocrine glands are the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, and adrenal. The endocrine system regulates your animal’s hormones and sends them directly into the blood stream. Environment, animal stress levels, temperature changes, and even nutrition tell the endocrine system whether to increase or decrease hormone production. Exocrine This system regulates and secretes saliva, sweat, mammary gland fluid, and pad suppleness. This system includes the stomach, mouth, and esophagus. Do animals sweat? Rabbits don’t. Urinary This system excretes cellular waste. If this waste remains in an animal’s system, dis-ease can occur. The color and amount of urine are important information your vet needs to know to determine whether the animal has healthy kidney functions. If you suspect animal illness, use a clean pie tin to collect a clean urine specimen for your vet (a fourth of a cup). This will expedite medical testing if needed.
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