Guinea Lynx A Medical and Care Guide for Guinea Pigs

PHYSIOLOGIC NORMS

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Physiologic Norms and Biologic Data

Norms vary slightly from one source to another. Additional sources welcome. Feel free to contact us with additional information.

Note: the personal experiences of hundreds of guinea pig owners indicate a wide range of weights. Male and female weights are similar and the average weight of a mature guinea pig is greater than the values reported by these sources. Experience also suggests guinea pigs can be sexually mature as early as 3 1/2 weeks of age. Be sure to separate male pups from all females at 3 weeks of age.

References and Links

BLOOD AND SERUM VALUES FOR GUINEA PIGS

MEASUREMENT Source 1 Source 2 Source 3
RBC (10power6/ul) 4-7 3.2 - 8 -
Hgb (g%) 11-17 10.0 - 17.2 -
Hematocrit/PCV (%) 35-45 32-50 -
Sedimentation Rate (mm/h) - 1.1-14.0 -
Leukocytes (10 power3/mm power3) - - 7-18
WBC (10power3/ul) 7-14 5.5 - 17.5 -
    Neutrophils (%) 20-60 22-48 28-44
    Lymphocytes (%) 30-80 39 - 72 39 - 72
    Monocytes (%) 2 - 20 1 - 10 3 - 12
    Eosinophils (%) 0 - 5 0 - 7 1 - 5
    Basophils (%) 0 - 1 0.0 - 2.7 0 - 3
Platelets (x10power3/ul) - 260-740 250-850
Mean Corpuscular Volume (um power3) - 71-96 -
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin
(pg)
- 23-27 -
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin
Concentration (%)
- 26-39 -
ALT (IU/L) 10 - 25 25 - 59 -
AP (IU/L) - 55 - 108 -
AST (IU/L) - 26 - 68 -
Bilirubin, total (mg/dl) 0.3 - 0.9 0.0 - 0.9 0.3 - 0.9
Calcium (mg/dl) 7.8 - 10.5 8.2 - 12.0 5.3 - 12
Chloride (mEq/L) 98 - 115 90 - 115 -
Cholesterol (mg/dl) 20 - 43 16 - 43 20 - 43
Creatinine (mg/dl) 0.6 - 2.2 0.6 - 2.2 0.6 - 2.2
Globulin (g/dl) - - 1.7-2.6
Glucose (mg/dl) 60 - 125 60 - 125 60 - 125
Lipids (mg/dl) - - 95-240
Phosphorus (mg/dl) 5.3 3.0 - 7.6 3.0-.6
(serum
phosphate)
Phospholipids (mg/dl) - - 25-75
Potassium (mEq/L) 6.8 - 8.9 3.8 - 7.9 -
Protein, total (g/dl) 4.6 - 6.2 4.2 - 6.8 4.6 - 6.2
    Albumin (g/dl) 2.1 - 3.9 2.1 - 3.9 2.1 - 3.9
    Globulin (g/dl) 1.7 - 2.6 1.7 - 2.6 1.7 - 2.6
Sodium (mEq/L) 146 - 152 120 - 152 -
Triglycerides (mg/dl) 0 - 145 - 0 - 145
Urea nitrogen (mg/dl) 9 - 32 9.0 - 31.5 9.0 - 31.5

ALT = Alanine Aminotransferase
AP = Alkaline Phosphatase
AST = Aspartate Aminotransferase
Hgb = Hemoglobin
PCV = Packed Cell Volume
mg/dl = Milligrams per deciliter

  • A milligram is one-thousandth of a gram. A gram is equivalent to 1/28 ounce.
  • A deciliter is a measure of volume that is 1/10 liter.
  • To convert mg/dl to mg/l, multiply the value by 10.
BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA FOR GUINEA PIGS

TYPE DATA Source 1 Source 2 Source 3
Avg Wt (gm) Male 900 - 1200 900 - 1200 900 - 1200
Avg Wt (gm) Fem 700 - 900 700 - 900 700 - 900
Age Puberty Male 90 - 120 days - -
Age Puberty Fem 60 - 90 days - -
Sexual Maturity Male
See: Source 4
21 - 35 days
- 90 days 8 weeks
Sexual Maturity Fem
See: Source 4
28 - 42 days
- 60 days 5 - 6 weeks
Life Span in Years 4-5 5-6 4-5
Temperature C° 37.2 - 39.5 37.2 - 39.5 37.2 - 39.5
Temperature F° 99.0 - 103.1 99.0 - 103.1 -
Heart Rate (BPM) 230 - 380 240 - 310 230 - 380
Avg. Blood Volume - 70 ml/kg 65 - 85 ml/kg
Tidal Volume - - 2.3 - 5.3 ml/kg
Respiratory Rate/Min 40 - 100 - 42 - 104
Estrus lengtd 15 - 17 days 15 - 17 days 15 - 17 days
Type Estrus Cycle - Nonseasonally
polyestrous
-
Ovulation - Spontaneous -
Gestation 59 - 72 days 59 - 72 days
(68 avg)
59 - 72 days
Litter Size 2 - 5 1-13
(2-4 usual)
2 - 5
Birtd Weight (grams) 60 - 100 45-115
(70-110 usual)
70-100
Weaning Age
(days/weight)
14 - 28 days 21 days
or 180gm
14-21 days
or 150-200gm
Consumption
(/100 g BW/day)
6 gm food
10 gm water
- 6 gm food
10 gm water
Nutritional
Recommendations
16-18 Min. fiber
16% Carbs
18-30% Protein
- -
Milk Composition - - 3.9% fat
8.1% protein
3.0% lactose
Diploid number - - 64

Source 1

  • Food, 6 grams/100grams bodyweight per day.
  • Water, 10 ml/100grams bodyweight per day.

Sexual Maturity (VCG Richardson)

  • Sexual maturity (female): 4-6 weeks
  • Sexual maturity (male): 3-5 weeks

References and Links

  • SOURCE 1: The Exotic Animal Formulary, by James Carpenter et al.(publisher W.B. Saunders Company -- 3rd edition 2004)

  • SOURCE 2: Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents - Clinical Medicine and Surgery by Katherine E.Quesenberry DVM and James W. Carpenter (publisher Elsevier -- 2nd edition 2004)

  • SOURCE 3: The Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents by J.Harkness DVM and J.Wagner DVM (publisher Williams & Wilkins - a Lea and Febiger Book -- 4th edition 1989)

  • SOURCE 4: Diseases of Domestic Guinea Pigs by V.C.G. Richardson (publisher Blackwell Publishing -- 2nd edition 2000)

Note: every effort has been made to supply accurate information. Be sure to check the sources listed above for the most accuracy.

Guinea Pigs are for Life