🩺 Normal Vital Signs for Dogs & Cats

Every Pet Owner Should Know What's Normal

Knowing your pet's normal vital signs is one of the best ways to recognize illness or an emergency early. This guide will show you how to check your pet's temperature, heart rate, breathing, gum color, and capillary refill time (CRT) at home.

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What Is It?

Your pet's vital signs include body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, gum color, and capillary refill time (CRT). Learning what's normal for your pet helps you recognize problems sooner and know when veterinary care is needed.

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Recognize the Signs

A healthy pet should have:

🐾 Bright, alert attitude

🐾 Pink, moist gums

🐾 Normal breathing without effort

🐾 Normal body temperature

🐾 Strong heartbeat

🐾 Capillary refill time (CRT) less than 2 seconds

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Step-by-Step First Aid

Step 1 – Check Temperature

Use a digital rectal thermometer with a small amount of water-based lubricant.

Normal Temperature

Dogs: 100.0–102.5°F

Cats: 100.5–102.5°F

⚠️ Temperatures above 104°F or below 99°F require immediate veterinary attention.

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Step 2 – Check Heart Rate

Place your hand on the left side of your pet's chest just behind the elbow or feel the femoral pulse on the inside of the rear leg.

Count the beats for 15 seconds and multiply by 4.

Dogs: 60–140 beats per minute

Cats: 140–220 beats per minute

Small dogs generally have faster heart rates than large dogs.

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Step 3 – Count Respirations

Watch your pet's chest rise and fall while they are calm or sleeping.

One rise and one fall equals one breath.

Count for 30 seconds and multiply by 2.

Dogs: 10–30 breaths per minute

Cats: 20–30 breaths per minute

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Step 4 – Check Gum Color

Healthy gums should be:

🐾 Pink

🐾 Moist

🐾 Smooth

Seek veterinary care if the gums appear:

⚪ Pale or white

🔵 Blue or gray

🟡 Yellow

🔴 Brick red

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Step 5 – Check Capillary Refill Time (CRT)

Press your finger gently against the gums until they briefly turn white.

Release your finger and watch for the pink color to return.

Normal CRT is less than 2 seconds.

A delayed refill time may indicate dehydration, shock, poor circulation, or another serious medical condition.

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🚨 When to See a Veterinarian

Seek veterinary care immediately if your pet has:

🐾 Temperature above 104°F

🐾 Temperature below 99°F

🐾 Difficulty breathing

🐾 Blue, gray, or white gums

🐾 Collapse or weakness

🐾 Very slow or very fast heart rate

🐾 Capillary refill time greater than 2 seconds

🐾 Unresponsiveness

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Prevention Tips

🐾 Learn how to safely take your pet's temperature.

🐾 Practice checking your pet's heart and respiratory rates while they are healthy.

🐾 Keep a digital thermometer in your PetMD Essentials First Aid Kit.

🐾 Record your pet's normal resting heart rate and respiratory rate.

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🩺 Dr. Debbie's Tip

One of the most valuable things you can do for your pet is learn what is normal for them.

Every dog and cat is a little different. If you know your pet's normal vital signs, you'll recognize a problem much sooner—when treatment is often most successful.

Take a few minutes today to practice these simple skills before you ever need them in an emergency.

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✔ PetMD Essentials Checklist

☑ Digital thermometer

☑ Water-based lubricant

☑ Stopwatch or smartphone timer

☑ Penlight

☑ Pet First Aid Companion

☑ Emergency contact numbers

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Be Prepared for Pet Emergencies

Knowing your pet's normal vital signs can help you recognize when something is wrong. The PetMD Essentials Pet First Aid Kit for Dogs & Cats, created by Debbie McCurry, DVM, includes more than 100 first-aid supplies and the Pet First Aid Companion guide to help you prepare for unexpected emergencies.

A first-aid kit does not replace veterinary care.

Quick Reference Chart