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Vital Signs of Dogs

Vital Signs of Dogs. Know What’s Normal for Your Dog Lucinda B. Miller, Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development Companion & Small Animal Programs miller.78@osu.edu. Know Your Dog!. Learn your dog’s normal vital signs

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Vital Signs of Dogs

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  1. Vital Signs of Dogs Know What’s Normal for Your Dog Lucinda B. Miller, Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development Companion & Small Animal Programs miller.78@osu.edu

  2. Know Your Dog! • Learn your dog’s normal vital signs • Take these vital signs when your dog is healthy so you know what is normal for him or her • Be sure to record them • Early recognition of illness or injury in your dog is important • Consider having your veterinarian take a sample of your dog’s blood to have it analyzed for baseline red blood cell count, kidney and liver functions, etc. • That gives you what is “normal” for your dog while he is healthy

  3. Dog’s Temperature • Normal body temperature • 100.5º F to 102.5º F • Take rectally using rectal thermometer • Lubricate bulb with petroleum jelly • Tie string on end • Have someone hold dog’s head • Lift dog’s tail • Insert thermometer into dog’s rectum • Just far enough to cover bulb • Hold onto end and do not let dog sit down • Leave in for 3 minutes before reading

  4. Dog’s Heart Rate (Pulse) • Normal resting heart rate for most adult dogs • 60 to 160 beats per minute (bpm) • Check heart rate at home when dog is relaxed • Count heart beats for 15 seconds • Multiply times 4 to get beats per minute • Three ways to take dog’s heart rate

  5. Put hand on chest to feel heart beating

  6. Put finger on femoral artery in groin area where leg connects to body

  7. Put finger behind left elbow

  8. Dog’s Respiratory Rate • Number of breaths per minute • Normal resting rate for dogs • 10 to 30 breaths per minute • Can pant up to 200 pants per minute • To take respiratory rate, have dog stand or lie down • Watch for signs of inhalation • Use watch with second hand, count number of times dog breathes in 15 seconds, multiply times 4 to get breaths per minute

  9. Respiratory Rate • If it is hard to see your dog breathing, rest your hand on his rib cage and feel it rise and fall while he inhales and exhales • You can also put a tissue or mirror by your dog’s nostrils and look for tissue movement or the mirror fogging.

  10. Discussion • Share your experience taking your dog’s temperature, pulse, and respiration. • Discuss which vital sign was easier to take; which was harder. Why? • Which way was easiest to take your dog’s pulse? Your dog’s respiration rate? • What is your normal body temperature, pulse, and respiration rate? • Why is knowing this important for your health? • How can you use this information in your daily life? • How does exercise and good nutrition affect your dog’s health? Your health?

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