Pet CPR + First Aid Certification Manual: Normal Vital Signs

Normal Vital Signs

Knowing what is normal for your dog or cat can help you recognize when something may be wrong. Normal values can vary with age, size, breed, activity level, stress, temperature, and health status. Whenever possible, observe your pet while they are calm and resting.

Breathing

Observe the chest as it rises and falls. One rise and fall counts as one breath.

• Dogs: Approximately 10-30 breaths per minute at rest
• Cats: Approximately 20-30 breaths per minute at rest

A pet's resting breathing rate should be measured when the pet is calm or asleep and not panting, since panting significantly increases the breathing rate and will not give an accurate resting measurement. Normal breathing should appear comfortable and unlabored. Persistent difficulty breathing, unusually rapid breathing at rest, open-mouth breathing in a cat, blue or gray gums, or collapse requires prompt veterinary attention.

Heart Rate and Pulse

A pulse may be felt on the inside of the upper hind leg where the femoral artery runs. Heart rate varies considerably with the animal's size, age, activity level, and stress.

Typical resting ranges include:

• Large dogs: Approximately 60-100 beats per minute
• Small dogs: Approximately 100-140 beats per minute
• Puppies: Approximately 120-160 beats per minute
• Cats: Approximately 140-220 beats per minute

When providing first aid, do not rely on heart rate alone to determine whether a pet is seriously ill or injured. Consider the pet's breathing, responsiveness, gum color, behavior, and overall condition.

Gum Color and Capillary Refill Time

Healthy gums are generally pink and moist, although normal pigmentation may make gum color difficult to evaluate in some pets.

To check capillary refill time:

1. Gently press on a pink area of the gums until it briefly becomes pale
2. Release the pressure
3. Normal color should generally return within about 1-2 seconds

Capillary refill time reflects how well blood is circulating. A slow return of color can be a sign of a circulation problem. Pale, white, blue, gray, or unusually dark-red gums, or a noticeably delayed return of color, may be associated with a serious medical problem and should be evaluated along with the pet's other signs.

Temperature

Normal body temperature for most dogs and cats is approximately 100-102.5°F (37.8-39.2°C).

Taking a rectal temperature may be difficult or unsafe if the animal is frightened, painful, aggressive, or severely ill. Do not delay emergency veterinary care in order to obtain a temperature.

Hydration

Hydration can sometimes be estimated by gently lifting a small fold of skin over the shoulders and releasing it. In a normally hydrated pet, the skin generally returns quickly to its normal position.

A slow return may suggest dehydration, but this test is not always reliable and can be affected by age, body condition, and skin elasticity. Other signs such as dry or tacky gums, weakness, reduced activity, vomiting, diarrhea, or decreased water intake may also be important.

When Veterinary Care Is Needed

Vital signs are only one part of assessing a pet. Seek veterinary care for significant difficulty breathing, abnormal gum color, collapse, reduced responsiveness, severe weakness, persistent vomiting or diarrhea, suspected dehydration, or any serious or worsening change from the pet's normal condition.