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Every day, monitor your pet’s health by checking their eating habits, eliminations, and general attitude. Signs of a problem in any pet include not eating, not drinking, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing or difficulty breathing, lethargy, etc. The most important thing you can do is monitor your pet’s normal condition and check for signs that there is something wrong. If, for example, you have a dog who usually loves to play and he suddenly has no energy, this could be a sign of a problem.
You can also check your pet’s TPR, which stands for temperature, pulse, and respiration. The normal TPR depends on the size and age of your pet.
Normal TPR for Dogs:
The normal temperature for a dog is between 102.2°F – 102.8°F, and the normal breathing rate is 10 – 30 breaths per minute. The normal heart rate is 100 – 160 beats per minute in small dogs (< 30 lbs), 60 – 100 bpm in medium to large dogs (> 30 lbs), and 120 – 160 bpm in puppies up to 1 year.
Normal TPR for Cats:
The normal temperature for a cat is between 100.5°F – 102.5°F, and the normal breathing rate is 20 – 30 breaths per minute. The normal heart rate is 160 – 220 beats per minute.
Vital Signs – How to check them?
- Use rectal, not oral, thermometers for pets. Newer human digital thermometers are best.
- Heart rate can be checked by placing a hand over the animal’s chest.
- Respiration can be measured by observing the flanks or by holding a wet finger in front of the nostrils.
- Measure both rates for 15 seconds, and then multiply by four to get the rate per minute. Make sure animal is in a calm, resting state to get normal rates.
Source: Rivera, Angel M. and Gaveras, Peter. First Aid - A Summary of First Aid Tips For Pet Owners. USA: Waltham. |
