Rabbit, Guinea Pig & Ferret Normal Values Reference
Normal heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, and PCV reference ranges for rabbits, guinea pigs, and ferrets, with the key species-specific clinical notes that change how you should interpret a case.
Rabbit
Heart rate
130-325 bpm (commonly ~200-250 bpm)
Respiratory rate
30-60 breaths/min
Body temperature
101.3-104°F (38.5-40°C)
PCV
~33-48%
Rabbits are obligate nasal breathers - any nasal obstruction is an emergency.
Normal GI motility is CONTINUOUS. Absence of fecal output for more than 12 hours is an emergency (GI stasis) requiring immediate veterinary attention, not a "wait and see" situation.
How to use this tool
Rabbits: GI stasis is a true emergency
Rabbits have continuous GI motility as a normal physiological baseline, so any pause in fecal output signals GI stasis - a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that can progress quickly if not treated promptly, unlike the more gradual course typically seen with reduced appetite in dogs or cats. Rabbits are also obligate nasal breathers, so any nasal obstruction is a respiratory emergency.
Guinea pigs and vitamin C
Unlike most mammals, guinea pigs cannot synthesize their own vitamin C internally, so it must be supplied in the diet. Deficiency causes a scurvy-like syndrome with poor wound healing, lethargy, and joint pain.
Ferrets: a higher baseline PCV, and a short GI transit time
Ferrets have a notably higher baseline packed cell volume than most companion species, so a PCV that would be considered polycythemic in a dog or cat may be entirely normal in a healthy ferret. They're also obligate carnivores with a very short GI transit time, making them prone to rapid deterioration with GI foreign bodies or prolonged anorexia.
Frequently asked questions
Why is a rabbit not eating or passing stool for 12+ hours an emergency?
Rabbits have continuous GI motility as a normal physiological baseline, so any pause in fecal output signals GI stasis - a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that can progress quickly if not treated promptly, unlike the more gradual course typically seen with reduced appetite in dogs or cats.
Why do guinea pigs need dietary vitamin C?
Unlike most mammals, guinea pigs cannot synthesize their own vitamin C internally, so it must be supplied in the diet - deficiency causes a scurvy-like syndrome with poor wound healing, lethargy, and joint pain.
Why is ferret PCV normally higher than in dogs or cats?
Ferrets have a notably higher baseline packed cell volume than most companion species, so a PCV that would be considered polycythemic in a dog or cat may be entirely normal in a healthy ferret - always compare against species-specific reference ranges.
Why are rabbits described as "obligate nasal breathers"?
Rabbits cannot effectively mouth-breathe, so any nasal passage obstruction - from congestion, abscess, or other causes - is a respiratory emergency in a way it wouldn't necessarily be in a species that can compensate by breathing through the mouth.