You are your dog's first line of defense when it comes to his health. Your pet can't tell you when he isn't feeling his best, so it's imperative that you observe his behavior closely in order to notice any subtle changes. It's also important that you educate yourself on must-know pet first aid, like how to check a dog's pulse.
When you're first learning how to check your pet's pulse, do it several times. Take your dog's pulse when you return home from a walk, after a game of fetch, when he first wakes up in the morning and check it during periods of rest throughout the day.
This will give you a good idea of your dog's resting and active heart rates. For health purposes, the most important time to check your dog's pulse is when he is relaxed. If you have one, you can use a stethoscope. If not, just use your hand as I do in the video guide above.
How To Check A Dog’s Pulse
You may need to check your dog’s pulse for a number of reasons. Whether you’re concerned for his safety or he has a health condition that requires close monitoring, knowing how to check a dog’s pulse is must-know canine first aid information.
Your dog’s pulse is the rhythmic movement of blood through his arteries. As his heart beats, the blood flows (pulses) through the vessels.
His pulse is one of the vital signs that your veterinarian will check during any visit. Temperature is another vital sign, and I’ve done a video guide on how to check your dog’s temperature if you’d like to check that out.
As I mentioned, it's important to be familiar with your dog's average heart beat so you know what would be considered faster or slower than normal. Every dog is different, so the normal heart rate will be slightly different for each dog.
Studies have shown that your dog's age and demeanor will have the most effect on his average heart rate. While the size of the dog (and thus the size of his heart) will have an effect on his pulse, this variable is not as important as researchers first thought.
A normal canine heart rate for an average dog is around 60-140 beats per minute. For large breeds, their heart rate will average at 60-100 beats per minute, while for small dogs, their heartbeat will be in 100-140 beats per minute range.
On average, small dog breeds and puppies have faster heart rates than large dog breeds. Dogs that are overweight or obese will have slower heartbeats than dogs that are in a good physical shape.
Before you begin, you will need a watch that counts seconds or a timer.
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You can feel your pet’s heartbeat on the left side of the chest at the area where a raised elbow will touch the chest. Your pet should be calm and quiet. Place your hand over this area of the chest and feel for a heartbeat.
Count the number of heartbeats for 15 seconds and multiply that number by 4. This will give you the number of beats per minute (bpm). Be aware that a dog’s heartbeat will normally slow down and speed up with each breath. This is not an abnormal heart rhythm and does not require veterinary care.
You can also measure your dog’s pulse by finding his Femoral artery. Place the tips of the middle and index fingers of one hand on the indentation of your dog’s inner upper thigh. You can see this in the photo above.
The pulse in the Femoral artery can be harder to find than the heart beat. This method may take some practice, but once you find it you'll be able to do it every time. Once you find the pulse, you'll use the same math as the heart beat method above.
Count the pulse for 15 seconds and then multiply that number by 4. This will give you the number of beats per minute (bpm).
Now you know how to check a dog's pulse at home without a stethoscope. Remember, if your pet has a heart rate outside the normal range, contact your veterinarian immediately.
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