Answer Hi – thanks for your email. Great question. I’m glad you asked this. I’ll give you some details from a fantastic article we have on the site right here. Normal vital signs for dogs are:
Body Temperature – Body temperature in animals is taken rectally. A dog’s typical body temperature ranges from 100 to 102. 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Contact your veterinarian right away if your pet’s temperature is less than 99 or is over 104.
Color of Mucous Membrane – The gums are the mucous membranes that are most frequently examined. A reliable indicator of blood perfusion and oxygenation is the color of the gums. The normal gum color is pink. Lowering the eyelid can also reveal the hue of the mucous membrane if your pet has gums that are colored. Gums that are pale, white, blue, or yellow are alarming, and you should call your veterinarian right away.
Heart Rate: On the left side of your pet’s chest, where a raised elbow would touch the pet’s chest, you can feel your pet’s heartbeat. Your pet should be calm and quiet. Check for a heartbeat by placing your hand over this area of the chest. You can also use a stethoscope if you have one. After 15 seconds, count the heartbeats and multiply the result by 4. Be aware that a dog’s heart typically beats more slowly and faster with each breath. There is no need for veterinary care because this is not an abnormal heart rhythm. A dog’s normal heartbeat varies depending on size: Puppies and small dogs typically have heart rates between 120 and 160 beats per minute. Heart rates in dogs over 30 pounds range from 60 to 120. The larger the dog, the slower the normal heart rate. Contact your veterinarian right away if your pet’s heart rate is abnormal.
Respiratory Rate: In an emergency, keeping track of breaths per minute and analyzing breathing patterns can be crucial. Learn the normal breathing rate and pattern for your pet. How many breaths does your pet take in a minute? Avoid counting when your pet is panting. When your pet is sleeping is a good time to count the normal breathing rate. Dogs typically breathe between 10 and 30 times per minute. Dogs can pant up to 200 times per minute normally.
Tips for Monitoring Your Pet’s Respiratory Rate
The number of times your pet fully exhales and inhales in a 60-second period while at rest or sleeping (as opposed to when they are active, playing, or dreaming) is the resting respiratory rate. When a pet has severe heart disease or is at risk of developing congestive heart failure (fluid in or around the lungs), respiratory rates should be monitored.
This kind of monitoring aids in spotting congestive heart failure symptoms early on before they become an emergency requiring hospitalization and oxygen therapy.
Why should I evaluate my pet’s breathing rate at home?
An important early warning sign (clinical sign) that your pet may be developing heart failure and needs to see your veterinarian is an increase in breathing rate while your pet is calmly resting or sleeping. Your observations can help limit how ill your pet gets, lower the likelihood that they’ll ever need to spend the night in the hospital, and lower the price of heart failure treatment.
What to Do If Your Dog is Breathing Fast
Count your dog’s respiratory rate while they are sleeping or resting to see if they are breathing abnormally quickly.
No matter what the problem is, these are all indications that your pet needs to see a doctor right away because it qualifies as a veterinary medical emergency. Contact your veterinarian if your dog is breathing rapidly despite otherwise acting normally. Your veterinarian might advise keeping an eye on your dog for a few days while keeping track of his respiratory rate to see if it settles down.
FAQ
Why is my dog breathing fast while resting?
When your dog is resting or sleeping, rapid breathing could be a sign of respiratory distress. If you notice any of the following symptoms, call your veterinarian right away: Using the muscles in the stomach to breathe Reluctance to drink, eat or move.
When should I worry about my dogs fast breathing?
If your dog breathes more than 30 times per minute, you should definitely keep an eye on him because this is considered to be too fast. Tachypnea is the term for excessively rapid breathing while at rest, which can be a sign of the following illnesses: Fluid in the lungs.
How do I know if my dog is breathing too fast?
Dogs with pale, blue-tinged, or brick-red gums may exhibit signs of fast breathing. Drooling. Open-mouthed breathing. Compared to panting, heavy, rapid breathing is a little louder and sounds different.
Is 30 breaths a minute normal for a dog?
In general, all dogs and cats, with or without heart disease, have a breathing rate of between 15 and 30 breaths per minute while they are resting or sleeping. If your pet is otherwise healthy, lower rates are even possible and pose no threat.