First Aid for Dogs and Cats Certification Manual
Normal Vital Signs

Breathing

• Dogs - unlabored 10-30 breaths per minute with no more than 200 pants
• Cats - unlabored 20-30 breaths per minute

Pulse

• Take the pulse at the inside of the upper hind leg or where the elbow meets the chest (at the 5th rib)
• Cats should be between 160-220 beats per minute (bpm)
• Dog heart rates can vary by size and age between 60-100 bpm for large dogs, 100-140 bpm for small dogs and 120-160 bpm for puppies

Capillary Refill Time (CRT) & Mucous Membrane

• Press against mucous membrane (gums) and then release tension
• CRT should take 1-2 seconds to return to normal color
• The mucous membrane should be pink and wet
• Slower than normal CRT can indicate a circulation problem

Temperature

• Temperature should be taken rectally with a thermometer 
• Dogs and cats should have a temperature between 99.5-102.5 degrees

Dehydration

• Pull the skin between the shoulder blades and then release
• The skin should return quickly if the animal is hydrated