Dog's pulse: the rate of heart beats per minute and the main deviations

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Dogs, like people, sometimes feel unwell. An attentive owner will always be able to see the signs of the disease. If the temperature, pulse and breathing of the dog is normal, he will be cheerful and sociable. In another case, the pet is reluctant to make contact, tries to lie more or, on the contrary, will walk from corner to corner. In this article, we will consider the pulse rates in dogs, and also find out what body temperature a he althy animal should have.

Normal dog body temperature

The temperature of a he althy animal ranges from 37.5 to 39 degrees. The difference is due to the dog's age, size, environment and metabolic rate.

Small breeds and puppies have a faster metabolism, so their body temperature is higher. This fact explains the difference in heart rate.

1. The temperature of smallbreeds: 38.6-39.3 degrees in puppies; from 38 to 39 - in adults.
2. Temperature for medium-sized breeds: 38, 3-39, 1 for puppies; 37, 5-39 - for adults.
3. Large Breeds: 38.2-39 degrees in puppies; 37, 4-38, 3 - in adult dogs.

Temperatures may be affected by weather conditions. On a sunny, hot day, dogs look for a shady place, their breathing and pulse quicken as the temperature rises - from 0.5 to 1.5 degrees!

In pregnant dogs, on the eve of childbirth, the temperature begins to drop from half to one and a half degrees. To accurately determine that a dog is about to give birth, you need to take its temperature more often.

Dog's emotions also affect temperature. The rate of pulse and breathing in dogs can also fluctuate depending on its state (excited or calm). The pulse will be discussed further.

What is a pulse?

Due to the work of the heart, tremors occur in the arteries. With the help of the ventricles, blood is pushed into the aorta from the heart muscle, then its path lies through the pulmonary arterial trunk, then, with the help of contractions in the walls of the vessels, the blood penetrates to the organs. These contractions are the pulse that can be felt by placing your fingers in the right place.

To measure the number of beats per minute, you need to know the heart rate in dogs. This is described in more detail below.

Pulse characteristics

If you control the number of heartbeats, you can determine the general state of blood circulation in the animal. In the characteristicThere are several factors that affect a dog's he alth:

• tension;
• rhythm;
• frequency;
• filling;
• shape;
• value.

Let's consider each of the factors in more detail.

BPM

This is the number of heartbeats in a certain period of time - per minute. But you can measure the pulse for half a minute, and 15 seconds, and then multiply it to the norm. For example, if the pulse was measured for 15 seconds, then multiply the resulting amount by 4; if 30 seconds, then multiply by 2.

The rate of heart rate in dogs is different, it depends on the size and age of the animal. In puppies, the number of beats will be greater than in adults; in large breeds, the pulse is slower. But it is worth considering another factor - what state is the dog in: after a run or just after sleep.

Finding out if a rapid heartbeat is a sign of illness is easy. If after physical activity the pulse quickly returns to normal, then the dog is he althy. If the pet is sick, then he will have a rapid heartbeat for a long time.

A dog's heart rate per minute

To monitor your pet's he alth, you need to measure his pulse from time to time. A normal heartbeat is:

1. Puppies - 110 to 120 bpm.
2. Adult dog - from 70 to 120.
3. An older dog is slower than a young one.
4. Large breeds -70-80 strokes is considered normal.
5. Small breeds - 100-120 pushes.

Knowing what the dog's pulse is normal, the owner will always be able to assess the he alth of the pet and contact the veterinarian in time.

Rhythm

This is a characteristic of the uniformity of heart beats.

The shocks should not slow down, then accelerate, there should not be sharp bursts, that is, the dog's heartbeat is ideally uniform. If this is not the case, then you should take your pet to the vet.

Magnitude, intensity and content

It is easy to determine the high intensity of the pulse wave - the more difficult it is to pinch the artery with your fingers until the blood circulation stops through it, the higher the tension.

The filling of the pulse is the amount of blood distilled in one push. The weaker the push, the less blood is driven.

Value is a criterion that combines the indicators of the previous two points. The higher the reading, the larger the value, indicating valvular insufficiency.

But if the value is large after physical exertion, then this is the norm, and this factor does not indicate illness.

Shape

The shape of the pulse is the type of aorta that she took while filling it with blood. For example, if the walls of the vessels are too elastic, then the time to take the shape of the aorta takes less than necessary. There is a strong concussion in the vessels, and in this case, you can hear such a phrase as "the pulse jumped".

Causes of deviations from the norm

During sleep, the pulsedogs slow down, and that's okay. If the dog is actively moving, running, experiencing strong emotions (fear, aggression, joy, etc.), then the heartbeat quickens. If your dog's heart rate drops while awake, this could indicate the following problems:

• poisoning;
• hypothermia;
• heart disease;
• failure in the endocrine system;
• exhaustion;
• infectious diseases.

If the pulse is rapid for no reason, then this may be evidence:

• heart disease;
• infectious diseases;
• stress.

In any case, the dog must be shown to a specialist. If the matter is hypothermia, then before the doctor arrives, you need to wrap the animal in a warm blanket.

If the dog's pulse is normal, but the rhythm is off, you also need to consult a veterinarian. In this case, we can talk about arrhythmia and disturbances in the conduction of the heart.

If the dog is unconscious, it will be almost impossible to feel the pulse. In this case, you urgently need to call a doctor at home, and before his arrival, do not hang up, but follow the advice and recommendations of a specialist.

How to take a dog's pulse?

Feeling an animal's pulse is not as easy as a human's. Do not try to find the artery under the skin of the paw or on the neck, it is located in a completely different place - on the inside of the thigh in the fold where the paw "attaches" to the body.

Lay the animal on its back, find the area where the pulse will be best felt. You should measure with the middle and ring fingers, or the middle and forefinger, but in no case with the big one. The fact is that a person’s pulse is felt through the thumb, and you can get confused, feeling not only tremors under the dog’s skin, but also your own.

Measure the pulse only when the dog is in a calm state, and not immediately after exercise.

After the end of the count, compare the result with the normal pulse rate in dogs. If you notice a big difference, then during the day at intervals, take repeated measurements. If the difference is noticeable consistently, then you need to visit a veterinarian.