So how fast does a rabbit’s heart beat per minute? A rabbit’s heartbeat per minute, also known as heart rate, is one of the most vital indicators of a rabbit’s overall health. As a rabbit owner, knowing and monitoring how fast a rabbit’s heart beats per minute is important. Comparatively, rabbits breathe a lot faster and have a higher heart rate than humans do. They breathe so quickly that their entire body appears to be trembling or shivering, especially when they have just done some running around.
What seems to be an incredibly fast heartbeat maybe your rabbit’s normal heart rate. Despite this, it is crucial to know that an extremely fast rabbit’s heartbeat can indicate an illness. It’s always helpful to learn how to distinguish between steadily fast and extremely fast heartbeats in rabbits. But just how fast does a rabbit’s heart beat per minute? This post will go over all of that and more.
What Is The Normal Heart Rate Of A Rabbit?
When at rest, the heart rate of a healthy rabbit ranges from 130 to 180 beats per minute. This rate amounts to 7200 to 9000 beats in one hour. Under stress or during exercise, a rabbit’s heart can beat as fast as 300 times per minute.
Alt image text: How fast does a rabbit’s heart beat per minute?_Picture of a pet rabbit on a sofa looking anxious
What Causes The Heart Of A Rabbit To Beat Too Quickly?
While a rabbit’s heart typically beats twice every second when at rest, there are times when you may notice your rabbit having a very fast heartbeat. Even though rabbits have a very fast heartbeat, it can be a problem if it becomes too fast. This, however, is not always a concern for a variety of causes, including some that are completely normal. However, other extreme cases of fast breathing will show the presence of a problem. The following are some reasons why a rabbit can have a very fast heartbeat.
The following are the most typical causes of an increased heartbeat in rabbits:
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Exercise
Any rabbit’s respiration rate will increase during exercise to take in more oxygen. The number of heartbeats correspondingly increases significantly as a result. The heart rate at this point is increased significantly but can still be termed normal when it is within the range of 300 per minute.
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Obesity
Compared to non-obese rabbits, obese rabbits have a greater resting heart rate. Other heart issues, including hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy (an abnormal enlargement or thickening of the heart muscles), may result from obesity. Increased heart rate due to obesity in rabbits might be unhealthy for a rabbit.
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Fear and anxiety
A rabbit’s heartbeat and respiration can also increase due to fear, anxiety, and stress. Bunnies may feel so frightened that they can be seen breathing heavily in the presence of a predator or an unusual visitor.
It is almost impossible to prevent brief episodes of anxiety or stress. At some point in your rabbit’s life, you will likely notice a rapid heartbeat brought on by fear. This might not pose too much of a problem as your rabbit can swiftly recover and settle down with time. However, persistent stress should be addressed seriously because it can affect rabbit health.
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Pain
The heart rate of your rabbit can also be impacted by pain. Since rabbits don’t exhibit any evident signs of pain like howling or sobbing as other animals do. Pain in bunnies is more difficult to identify than in other species.
Rabbits would probably prefer to remain still and conceal themselves in the back of their cage. Their heart beat faster when they feel pain in any part of their body. You can check for additional indications that your rabbit is in pain. Some additional indication for pain includes crouching position, restlessness, and reduced appetite.
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Stress
Stress is another crucial factor that can cause elevated heart rates in rabbits. Numerous factors might stress a rabbit to the point where its heart rate rises. Some stress-inducing factors include Loud sounds, the presence of predators, unfamiliar environments, transport, and careless handling.
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High temperature
An excessive increase in a rabbit’s heart rate may also be caused by high temperature. Rabbits cannot sweat, as a result, they will likely come down with exhaustion and overheating when the weather conditions are too high. This implicates a high heart rate, especially in the summer.
For rabbits, the optimal temperature is from 55 to 70 °F (13 to 21 °C). If temperatures increase above 85 °F (29 °C), your rabbits are at risk of overheating or heat stroke.
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Size
The resting heart rates of different rabbits vary. Higher resting heart rates are observed in smaller breeds of rabbits weighing 1.1–3.5 pounds. Larger rabbits have lower resting heart rates, especially those weighing 6–12 pounds.
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Sicknesses
Various forms of diseases are capable of causing a heartbeat that is too fast. One of the obvious symptoms of heart disease in rabbits is an excessively fast heartbeat.
How To Know How Fast Your Rabbit’s Heart Is Beating?
You can easily get your rabbit’s heart rate by carefully examining your rabbit’s pulse. You can also directly feel for the heartbeat by placing your palm on the lower left side of your rabbit’s chest. Using a clean pair of gloves, feel your rabbit pulse through its femoral artery which is on the inside of its upper thigh.
Get a stopwatch and count your heartbeat for a minute. You can as well count for 30 seconds and multiply your count by 2. The amount of heartbeat counted would also be determined by the emotional state of your rabbit during counting. Compare your final result with the normal range of 120 to 180 beats per minute. If you notice an unusual count, consult your vet for help.
Heart Conditions That Can Affect Rabbits
Heart disease can develop in a rabbit at any stage of life due to infections, specific drugs, stress, inactivity, and poor dietary choices. There are numerous categories that heart disease might fall into. These entail the following:
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Congenital Heart disease
This indicates that the illness or heart condition has been present since birth. Many rabbits have ventricular or inter-auricular septal defects, which are congenital cardiac conditions.
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Myopathies
This condition is related to heart expansion. A rabbit’s heart function can decline due to diseases of the myocardium, the muscular middle layer of the heart’s wall. Myopathies involving heart enlargement are more prevalent than other forms of cardiomyopathies in rabbits.
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Heart failure
This has to do with the total collapse of the heart. Heart failure frequently results from illnesses that have weakened the heart muscle, making it unable to pump blood as efficiently as it should. Tachycardia, which is used to describe a very high or quick heart rate, can occur in times of extreme stress. This can lead to a total shutdown of the heart due to strain on the heart muscles.
Alt image text: How fast does a rabbit’s heart beat per minute?_Black and white colored rabbit resting on a sheet
What Symptoms Will My Rabbit Exhibit If It Has A Heart Disease?
Heart disease is not usually easy for your vet to diagnose because the clinical indications of heart disease might be linked to other diseases in rabbits.
Additionally, because they are a prey species, rabbits are created by nature to hide symptoms of discomfort, disease, and weakness. Your pet bunnies have this untamed instinct even though they are domesticated. Some symptoms of heart disease include:
- Exercise intolerance.
- A reduced appetite or anorexia.
- Gaining or losing weight, breathing problems, coughing, or wheezing.
- Increased respiratory effort.
- Blue Lips with tongues presenting with a blue tint.
- Instances of fainting.
- Heart attacks and consequential death.
Do Rabbits Experience Heart Attacks?
Yes, rabbits can get heart attacks, so it’s a good idea to provide them with a peaceful, quiet life. A heart attack can occur in any animal. Although it is less frequent in dogs and cats, rabbits are perhaps a little more vulnerable because they have a faster heart rate. This fast heartbeat and breathing rate is beneficial as it makes them capable of escaping any instantaneous danger.
However, it is possible for rabbits maintained in outdoor hutches to become so startled by passing objects that they suffer heart attacks and pass away. When a rabbit trapped inside a cage perceives a potential predator nearby and cannot flee, it may get a heart attack and pass away even if the alleged predator never touches them. The heart attack is due to bunnies becoming so agitated or terrified that their heart race so fast beyond control.
How To Minimize Stress In Rabbits and Avoid Heart Attacks
It’s crucial to make an effort to reduce stress at home to avoid heart attacks in pet rabbits. The following are measures that can be taken:
- Do your best to stick to a schedule for feeding, cleaning, and other daily tasks.
- Constantly provide plenty of hiding spots for your bunnies.
- Keep them in a calm environment, and help them maintain good health.
- As much as possible, keep dogs and cats away from them.
What To Do If Your Rabbit Has A Heartbeat Problem
Rabbits with milder or earlier stages of heart problems can often leave normal, content lives in the right conditions. If you notice that your rabbit is suffering from a heart problem or has a faster-than-normal heart rate, take them to visit the vet as soon as you can.
For rabbits with heart conditions, maintaining a low-stress environment is crucial to maintaining a normal, healthy heartbeat. Keeping a healthy weight on your rabbit is also important to avoid undue strain on the heart. You can improve their quality of life by providing sufficient room, opportunities for exercise, and a balanced diet. Constantly take them to the vet for check-ups.
Alt image text: How fast does a rabbit’s heart beat per minute?_Adult pet rabbit of white and gray-color lying on the sofa
Conclusion
Rabbits are generally grouped among prey animals which usually have a fast heartbeat. The heartbeat of a rabbit can be seemingly fast but normal for them. However, the heart rate should remain within the normal reference range of 130-180 beats per minute. This number is distorted as an indication of a problem such as stress or disease. A rabbit’s heart rate is, therefore, a critical indicator of whether they are healthy or not and should be investigated from time to time.