How to Check the Heart Rate of Dogs and Cats

Familiarize yourself with your pet's normal health condition by performing regular checkups, including monitoring heart rate.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dog Toys
• Dog Treats
• Stethoscopes
• Watches With Second Hands
• Cat Toys
• Cat Treats

1. Lay your pet on her right side.

2. 

   Bend her left front leg at the elbow.

3. Touch the elbow to your pet's chest. The area where the elbow touches is where heartbeats are best heard.

4. 

   Place your hand or a stethoscope on that area.

5. 

   Count the heartbeats for 15 seconds.

6. Multiply that number by 4. This is the animal's heart rate per minute.

7. Treat your pet's condition as an emergency if her heart rate is outside normal range, and call your veterinarian.

Tips & Warnings

• For dogs weighing 30 lbs. or less, the average heart rate is 100 to 160 beats per minute. For dogs weighing more than 30 lbs., the average heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute.
• A puppy up to 1 year of age has an average heart rate of 120 to 160 beats per minute.
• A cat has an average heart rate of 160 to 220 beats per minute.

Who Can Help Sponsored

on 4/3/2006 Actually, by placing the animal in lateral recumbancy (on the side), you will most likely cause a bit of stress and elevate the heart rate. It would be better to allow the pet to stand normally and place the stethoscope in the area as described in the article.