Is this normal?
Took your dog's or cat's temperature, pulse or breathing rate? Enter the number to see how it compares with the usual range and what to do about it.
How to measure. Use a digital thermometer in the rectum with a little lubricant, with someone holding your pet. Ear and forehead thermometers made for people are not reliable in pets. Do not try if your pet struggles or is in pain.
Your reading
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Enter the number you measured.
This tool organizes what you have noticed. It can't examine your pet, and its result is not a diagnosis or veterinary advice. Take what it shows to your vet; if your pet is in distress, go to an emergency clinic now. Full disclaimer
The ranges it uses
Temperature: about 100 to 102.5°F (37.8 to 39.2°C) is the range commonly quoted for both dogs and cats, measured rectally. That is warmer than a person, so a pet that feels hot to the touch may be perfectly normal, and a warm or dry nose tells you nothing reliable.
Heart rate at rest: roughly 60 to 140 beats a minute for dogs, slower in large dogs and faster in small ones, and roughly 140 to 220 for cats. Breathing at rest or asleep: 30 breaths a minute or fewer for both. Gum color should return within about two seconds after you press and let go.
The tool is deliberately cautious, because the ranges are averages and a number is only one part of the picture. A pet with a normal reading that is not eating, is hiding or is struggling to breathe still needs a vet. And never give a human medicine to bring a temperature down: common fever and pain medicines can kill dogs and cats.
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