Normal Values for Dogs and Cats
Body Temperature – Respiratory Rate – Heart Rate – Capillary Refill Time
To detect critical changes in your pet, it is helpful to know what is “normal” or “still within normal limits”.
Most physiological data are subject to fluctuations due to:
Age of the animal: Higher values in younger animals than in older ones
Body size: Higher values in smaller animals than in larger ones
Time of day: Higher values in the evening than in the morning
Physical activity: Higher values with physical activity
Ambient temperature: Higher values at higher ambient temperatures
Normal Values
Body Temperature
Measured in the rectum (Rectal temperature, RT)
Normal for dog, cat: 37.5–39.0°C.
Elevated temperature: Increase of 0.5°C compared to normal
Fever: From 40°C
Respiratory Rate
Normal for dog: 15–25 breaths/min
Normal for cat: 20–40 breaths/min.
Breathing should be easy and without abnormal sounds.
Heart Rate
Normal for dog: 60–100 beats/min
Small breeds: 60-180 beats/min
Puppies: 60-200 beats/min
Normal for cat: 140–180 beats/min.
In dogs, there is a respiratory-dependent rhythm. The heart rate increases during inhalation and decreases during exhalation.
Capillary Refill Time
The capillary refill time (CRT) is the time from the blanching of a mucous membrane area, caused by finger pressure, until the return of blood flow.
Measuring Heart Rate and Pulse Rate
How to measure heart rate:
- The pulse, which corresponds to the heartbeat, can be felt on the large artery of the hind leg, on the inner side of the thigh, high up near the hip joint, with the index, middle, and ring fingers and light pressure, whether the animal is lying down or standing.
- Heart Rate (HR) can be felt on the left chest wall just behind the left elbow. In dogs, it’s best to place the flat hand, in cats, 2-3 fingers.
Count the pulse or heartbeats for half a minute and then double the number of beats counted. This will give you the current HR, measured in beats/minute (beats/min).
Two ways to feel the pulse in dogs.
Measuring Capillary Refill Time
Mucous membranes and capillary refill time (CRT), measured in seconds (s)
Mucous Membranes are pale pink and moist. Other colors such as bluish, red, yellow, or white are pathological.
What is Capillary Refill Time (CRT)
If you apply firm pressure with your finger to the mucous membrane of the lip or the gums near the canine tooth, a temporary blanching occurs, visible as a white area where the finger pressure was applied.
In an animal not suffering from dehydration, blood flow returns within one to two seconds, and the white area on the mucous membrane disappears.
The time from blanching to the return of blood flow is referred to as the Capillary Refill Time (CRT).
The CRT is a very sensitive and reliable parameter for assessing the animal’s hydration status. Only in specific cardiovascular diseases can the predictive value of the CRT be impaired.
