The main vital signs
Veterinary teams commonly check temperature, pulse (heart rate) and respiration (breathing rate), often shortened to TPR. They also look at gum color, capillary refill time and general behavior. The three main vital signs in animals are usually temperature, pulse and respiration.
Knowing your pet’s normal at rest helps you spot changes. These numbers are general guides, not diagnoses. Always compare to your own pet’s baseline and ask your vet what is normal for them.
Normal ranges at a glance
Ranges vary slightly by source, size, age and breed, so treat these as approximate.
| Sign | Dogs | Cats |
|---|---|---|
| Resting heart rate | About 60 to 140 beats per minute (puppies and small dogs often faster, large dogs slower) | Generally faster than dogs, often cited around 140 to 220 beats per minute, depending on source and stress |
| Resting breathing rate | About 10 to 30 breaths per minute | About 20 to 30 breaths per minute |
| Temperature | About 100 to 102.8 F (37.8 to 39.3 C) | About 100 to 102.5 F (37.8 to 39.2 C) |
| Gum color | Pink and moist | Pink and moist |
| Capillary refill time | Under about 2 seconds | Under about 2 seconds |
These ranges apply to a calm, resting animal. Excitement, exercise, heat and the stress of a vet visit can all raise values.
How to check at home
Do this when your pet is calm and resting, and stop if they become stressed or try to bite.
- Breathing rate. Watch the chest rise and fall while your pet is relaxed or asleep. Count breaths for 30 seconds and double it, or count for a full minute. Count one rise and fall as one breath.
- Heart rate. Place your hand on the left side of the chest behind the elbow and count beats for 15 seconds, then multiply by four. Cats and small dogs may be hard to read, so practice when calm. Your vet can show you.
- Temperature. A rectal thermometer is the usual home method. Ask your vet or a technician to demonstrate first, use a pet-safe digital thermometer with lubricant, and never force it. Do not attempt it on a pet that is struggling.
- Gums. Lift the lip and look at gum color. Press lightly on the gum with a finger until it turns pale, then release and count how fast the pink returns.
Gum color and capillary refill
Healthy gums are generally pink and moist. Pale, white, blue, gray, very red or yellow gums, or sticky and dry gums, can signal a serious problem (dry gums can point to dehydration; see how to hydrate a dog). Some dogs have naturally pigmented dark gums, which makes checking harder. Capillary refill that takes longer than about two seconds also warrants a call to a vet. Treat pale or blue gums as an emergency.
Why readings vary
- Size and age. Puppies, kittens and small animals typically have faster heart rates.
- Stress or excitement. Pets are often higher at the clinic than at home.
- Heat and exercise. Both increase breathing and temperature.
- Breed. Short-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds may breathe noisily and have more trouble in the heat.
- Medications and health conditions. Your vet can tell you what applies to your pet.
Why is my dog breathing so fast?
Panting after exercise or in warm weather is normal. But rapid or labored breathing while resting is different. Counting a resting rate well above the usual range, such as a number like 70 breaths per minute, is a reason to contact your vet promptly. Fast breathing can be linked to pain, heart or lung disease, heatstroke, fever and other problems, and it is hard to tell the cause at home.
Go to an emergency clinic right away if breathing is labored, you see belly heaving, blue or pale gums, collapse, or your pet cannot settle.
When to call a vet
Contact your vet if you notice:
- Resting breathing rate that stays above the usual range, or breathing that looks like effort (for older dogs, see breathing problems in old age)
- Temperature above about 103 F or below about 99 F, or any fever with other signs of illness
- A heart rate that is very fast, very slow, or irregular
- Pale, blue, gray, yellow or very red gums
- Lethargy, collapse, repeated vomiting, or refusal to eat or drink
If you are unsure, call. Young, old and small pets can decline quickly. A pet that has been in a hot car or outdoors in extreme heat needs immediate veterinary care.
Pet emergencies: when to go straight to a vet
Do not wait and watch if you see any of these.
- Heatstroke. Fast breathing, sticky gums, lethargy, disorientation or seizures after heat exposure. Go to a vet immediately. On the way, cool your dog with cool (not cold) water, use a fan or air conditioning, and avoid ice packs or covering the dog in wet towels.
- Bloat (GDV) in dogs. Restlessness, heavy drooling, retching with nothing coming up, a swollen belly, labored breathing or collapse. It is life-threatening and needs treatment within minutes to hours.
- Urinary blockage in male cats. Repeated trips to the litter box, straining with little or no urine, crying or licking the genitals. It is often mistaken for constipation and can be fatal within a day or so.
- Toxins. Common dangers include chocolate, xylitol, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, antifreeze, rat poison and human medications. Lilies are a serious danger to cats.
If your pet may have eaten something toxic, call your vet or a poison helpline straight away: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline, (855) 764-7661. Both are open 24 hours a day and may charge a fee.
Keeping a baseline
Record your pet’s resting breathing rate and, if you are comfortable, heart rate and temperature when they are healthy. Note the date and conditions. Share the numbers with your vet at checkups. This is also useful for new pets, and our new puppy vet checklist shows what your vet will check on a first visit. For wider care tips, see how to care for your pet.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three main vital signs in animals?
Temperature, pulse and respiration, with gum color and capillary refill time often checked alongside.
What are the 7 vital signs range?
Sources list different sets, and there is no single standard. Veterinary teams may track temperature, pulse, respiration, gum color, capillary refill time, pain level and hydration or weight. Ask your vet which they use.
Why is my dog breathing 70 breaths per minute?
That is much faster than typical resting rates. Unless your dog has just exercised or is overheated, contact your vet promptly, and seek emergency care if breathing is labored or gums look pale or blue.