Dog heart rate and breathing rate checker

What is a normal breathing rate for a dog?

A healthy adult dog resting quietly or asleep takes 15 to 30 breaths a minute, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. The Merck Veterinary Manual and the Animal Medical Center in New York give a resting range of 18 to 34. Asleep, most dogs breathe more slowly still: in a study of 114 healthy adult dogs whose owners counted at home, the average sleeping rate was 13 breaths a minute, and no dog averaged more than 23.

What is a normal heart rate for a dog?

The Merck Veterinary Manual gives a resting heart rate of 70 to 120 beats a minute for dogs. Size matters, though: small dogs have faster hearts than big ones. The Animal Medical Center splits it like this:

These are adult numbers. Puppies' hearts beat faster, so ask your vet what's normal for a young puppy. A dog that has just played, is excited or is in the heat will also count higher, so let it settle before you count.

Why vets ask you to count the sleeping breathing rate

If your dog has a heart murmur or heart disease, your vet may ask you to track its breathing at home. VCA calls a rising rate while resting or asleep an important early clue that heart failure is developing, and catching it early can mean a less sick dog, fewer nights in hospital and lower bills.

The sleeping count is the one to use because it is lower and steadier. In the 2012 study, dogs counted both ways averaged 19 breaths a minute awake and resting but 15 asleep, and an awake dog's breathing shifts with every noise and smell. VCA suggests counting at least once a day for dogs on heart failure medication and writing each number down. A simple log also gives your vet real data instead of "he seemed to breathe a bit fast".

How do I count my dog's breaths?

1. Wait until your dog is asleep, or at least lying quietly with its mouth closed and not panting.
2. Watch the chest or flank. One rise and fall is one breath.
3. Count for 30 seconds and multiply by 2, or count for a full minute.

Example: 9 breaths in 30 seconds × 2 = 18 breaths a minute (normal).

The tap counter in the checker does the timing for you: press start, tap once per breath, and it fills in the count. If the room is dark, resting a hand lightly on the ribs works too, as long as it doesn't wake your dog.

How do I check my dog's heart rate?

The easiest pulse to find is on the inside of a hind leg, high on the thigh, where the femoral artery runs. Press gently with two fingers. If you can't feel it there, place your hand on the left side of the chest where the elbow touches it and count the heartbeats instead.

Example: 22 beats in 15 seconds × 4 = 88 beats a minute.

Fifteen seconds is quick, which helps with a fidgety dog, but any miscount is multiplied by four. The Animal Medical Center suggests 30 seconds times two, and a full minute is better still if your dog lies still.

When is fast breathing an emergency?

Don't stop to count if your dog is clearly in trouble. Go to a vet straight away, calling ahead on the way, if your dog has:

• labored breathing, with visible effort
• weakness, collapse or fainting
• pale or blue gums
• fast breathing together with coughing, or with restlessness and trouble getting comfortable to sleep

A raised temperature often comes with fast breathing; the dog temperature checker tells you whether it's a fever. For other signs, from vomiting to limping, use the dog symptom checker to decide how quickly to see a vet.