Basic biological data

Physiologic Values

Physiologic values for rabbits

Life span:	6–13 years
Urine volume:	20–250 mL/kg/24 h. Usually about 130 ml/kg/24 h
Water intake:	50–100 mL/kg/24 h
Oxygen use	0.4–0.85 mL/g/hr
Optimum environmental temperature:	15–20°C (65–70°F)
Rectal temperature: Subnormal: Raised:	38.5–40°C (103.3–104°F) 38.0°C (100.4°F) 40.6°C (105°F)
Heart rate:	130–325 bpm
Respiratory rate:	32–60 bpm
Erythrocyte life span:	50 days
Blood volume:	55–65 mL/kg
Blood pressure:	90–130/60–90 mm Hg
Tidal volume:	20 mL (4–6 mL/kg)
Gastrointestinal transit time:	4–5 hr
Intraocular pressure:	5–23 mmHg
Reproductive data
Puberty:	4–5 months in small breeds 5–8 months in large breeds
Descent of testicles:	10–12 weeks
Age at which to neuter:	>3 months for males; >5 months for females
Interval between castration and infertility:	4 weeks
Pregnancy diagnosis:	Palpation: 10–12 days Radiologically after 11 days
Gestation:	30–32 days
Litter size:	Average 5–8
Milk composition:	13–15% protein, 10–12% fat and 2% carbohydrate
Birth weight:	40–100 g
Eyes open:	7 days
Weaning:	4–6 weeks
Sources: Harcourt-Brown, F. (2001). Textbook of rabbit medicine. (1st ed.). Oglesbee, B. (2011). Blackwell's five-minute veterinary consult: Small mammal. (2nd ed.).

Serum Biochemistry Values

"Rabbit CBC: Variations with Age" @ Moichor by Dr. Lizzie Youens BSc(Hons) BVSc MRCVS

Reference ranges for serum biochemistry values of rabbits

Serum protein	2.8–10.0 g/dL
Albumin (Alb)	2.7–4.6 g/dL
Globulin	1.5–2.8 g/dL
Fibrinogen	0.2–0.4 g/dL
Serum glucose	75–150 mg/dL
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)	15.0–23.5 mg/dL
Creatinine (Cr, CREAT)	0.5–2.5 mg/dL
Total bilirubin (T Bil)	0.25–0.74 mg/dL
Serum lipids	280–350 mg/dL
Phospholipids	75–113 mg/dL
Triglycerides (TGL, Trig)	124–156 mg/dL
Cholesterol	18–35 mg/dL
Calcium (Ca)	5.6–12.5 mg/dL
Phosphorus (PHOS, PO4)	4.0–6.9 mg/dL
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)	48–80 U/L
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)	14–113 U/L
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP, AP, Alk Phos)	4–16 U/L
Source: Oglesbee, B. (2011). Blackwell's five-minute veterinary consult: Small mammal. (2nd ed.).

Hematologic Values

Hematologic values of rabbits

Erythrocytes	4–7.2 × 106/mm3
Hematocrit	36–48%
Hemoglobin	10.0–15.5 mg/dL
Leukocytes	7.57–13.5 × 103/mm3
Neutrophils	20–35%
Lymphocytes	55–80%
Monocytes	1–4%
Basophils	2–10%
Platelets	200-–1000 × 103/mm3
Source: Oglesbee, B. (2011). Blackwell's five-minute veterinary consult: Small mammal. (2nd ed.).

Further Reading

Rabbit CBC: Variations with Age, Dr Lizzie Youens BSc(Hons) BVSc MRCVS, March 3rd, 2023

Hormone Values

Hormone values of rabbits

T3 - Triiodothyronine T3  3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine	130–143 ng/dL [1.997–2.1967 nmol/L] (Suckow, 2012)
T4 - Thyroxine T4  3,5,3',5'-tetraiodothyronine	1.7–2.4 μg/dL [21.9–30.9 nmol/L] (Suckow, 2012) 1.7–2.4 μg/dL [21.9–30.9 nmol/L] (Laboklin, Dec 2017) 3.9–5.3 μg/dL [50.9–68.2 nmol/L] (Laboklin, Sep 2017) 6.4–8.3 μg/dL [82.4–106.8 nmol/L] (Jones, 1975)
fT4 - Free Thyroxine T4  3,5,3',5'-tetraiodothyronine	< 0.89 μg/dL (1.335 μg/dL) [< 20 (30) pmol/L] (Laboklin, Dec 2022)
Source: Suckow, Stevens, & Wilson (2012). The Laboratory Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Hamster, and Other Rodents (American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine). (1st ed.). Laboklin Diagnostik GmbH & Co. KG. Reference values on test results for T4 (vor1.), Update results based on ~1000 samples take between 2015-2017 in Europe, December 2017, (older: September 2017.) Laboklin results used with direct permission from Katka Pruskova. Please contact her with any other T3/T4 information to help her rabbit Mitsie. R. T. Jones (1975). Normal values for some biochemical constituents in rabbits. Laboratory Animals (1975) 9,143-147. µg/dL -> nmol/L & ng/dL -> nmol/L conversion: Units Lab Triiodothyronine (T3) calculator & Thyroxine (total T4) calculator. - R. T. Jones's older work is referenced by E. van Praag, Medirabbit and both editions of Textbook of Rabbit Medicine, 2e: Varga (2013), 1e: Frances Harcourt-Brown (2001)

The Visible Bunny App

This app allows users to view different aspects of the bunny's anatomy to fit their needs. It is especially useful for a surgeon to show clients where and they might be working by turning on particular layers of the bunny's anatomy. Along with showing different views of the anatomy, this app also allows the user to draw on top of the image. This feature can aid the user in circling certain parts of the anatomy, or writing text. There is also a save image feature that allows the user to save views to their device, which can be sent via email or text at a later date. These images are saved in a folder called The Visible Bunny in the Android pictures folder.

The Visible Bunny is offered by the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia - Educational Resources Center (James Moore).

• Android (requires Android 5.0 and up) Play Store

• Apple iPhone, iPadOS, and iPod touch (requires iOS 12.0 or later) & Mac (requires macOS 11.0 or later & a Mac with Apple M1 chip) - Apple Store

See also

• Clinical pathology in rabbits