As cat and dog’s heart rate and other metabolism differ significantly to that of a human, for instance, your dog’s normal temperature might be 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit and the normal heart rate may differ based on its size and age. The heart rates of puppies and small dogs at rest are much faster than those of adults or large dogs.
Generally, dogs’ heart rates are affected by their size. Larger dogs have slowing heart rates and young dogs will have faster heart rates than an adult of the same breed. In addition, consider what your dog is currently doing, has just finished doing, or is about to do. Such as is he fast asleep (slower), just finished running wildly in the park (faster), or about to get his favourite treat (faster)?
Knowing how to take your dog’s pulse can be helpful in an emergency situation where you may be dealing with serious illnesses such as dehydration, fever, heart disease or shock. Your veterinarian should demonstrate how to locate your pet’s pulse the next time you see her, as well as what it means to him specifically.
How To Measure Your Dog and Cat Heart Rate
For measuring your dog’s heart rate, you’ll need a stopwatch or clock that gives you a count in seconds. You can feel your dog’s heartbeat with your hand on his left side or behind his hind leg.
Dogs and cats can be measured at home for heart rate, and some veterinarians suggest checks regularly for pets with heart disease. The best way to ensure the heart is beating is by placing your hands firmly against the pet’s chest with your fingers just inside or just below the edge of the front legs, with your fingers pointed straight down, towards the floor.
Once that has been done, count the number of heartbeats during each 30 second period and divide this number by two to calculate the heart rate. In some thin dogs you can see the heart beating just behind the front leg. Alternatively, you may as well locate the arterial pulse in the femoral artery region, high up in the groin area, on the inner surface of the back legs. The pet should be relaxed for this, as excitement will cause the heart rate to rise.
In pure breed puppies, resting pulse rates range from 160 to 200 beats per minute when they are born, which can increase to 220 beats per minute as they age and may stay the same until the age of one year.
Resting heart rates for large adult dogs can range from 60 to 100 beats per minute, while those for small adult dogs range from 100 to 140 beats per minute. That is to say, resting heart rates for adult dogs are usually between 70 and 120 beats per minute. Your dog’s heart rate can be reached by placing your finger on the femoral artery inside of the hind leg and counting the number of beats you feel within fifteen seconds. Multiply this figure by four.
You should take the reading multiple times. This will allow you to establish a normal baseline so you can tell if something is wrong when the dog is at rest. Count the heartbeats for 15 seconds and multiply the result by four to get the beats per minute.
In addition to that, dogs come in a variety of sizes, and their hearts also vary a great deal, which is why it is important for you to become familiar with what is normal for your pet, to ensure you’re aware in an instant if something is wrong. Your dog’s heartbeat can be measured with a watch, stopwatch or your smartphone. Feel around his left side behind his front leg and count the number of beats for 15 seconds multiply by four.
Large dogs and those in good physical condition will have slower heartbeats, while dogs who are small, puppies and out of shape will have faster heartbeats. As a resting dog, the heartbeat ranges from 60 to 140 beats per minute, over 60 in big dogs and over 100 in little ones. You can check the rate by gently touching the top of your dog’s hind leg. Since normal heart rate varies greatly, it’s difficult to assess abnormal without a baseline, so take your dog’s heart rate several times and take notes. If you’re concerned with what you’re finding, talk to your veterinarian about it.
Causes of Changes In Dog and Cat Heart Rate
It is often normal for heart rate to increase with exercise or emotional responses such as excitement or stress. However, this is not an indication that a condition has become worse.
In contrast, if you notice any changes in cate and dog resting heart rate as they are relaxed, there might be a problem. Having a resting heart rate that is higher than the usual range can indicate numerous heart or blood conditions or signify an unhealthy dog. It may also indicate an out of shape pet at risk for health issues.