Useful Information
What’s Normal? Knowing the normal vital signs can be great information in determining if your dog needs medical care!
Average temperature in a dog 100-102.5 degrees Fahrenheit
Temperatures below 99 and over 104 indicate that your dog is ill and needs to be seen by a veterinarian.
Taking your dogs temperature is a lot easier if someone else can hold the head and distract the animal. Lubricate the tip of a rectal thermometer. Lift the base of your pets tail and slowly insert the thermometer into the rectum until half of it is inside. Keep it in for 3 minutes, then withdraw and check the reading.
Dehydration test
You can gauge a pet’s degree of dehydration, or fluid loss with a simple test. The first sign of a problem is loss of the skin;s elasticity. Grab a pinch of the skin on the top of your pet’s head, then release it. The longer it takes to spring back into place, the more severe the dehydration.
Second Test – Feel the Gums. If the gums are slick – good hydration. If the gums feel sticky – poor hydration, needs attention. If the gums are dry – Critical.
Mucous Membrane Color (check the gums) Pink
If your dog has a mucous Membrane Color that causes you a concern, lower the skin at the bottom of the eye and verify the color there. White, yellow, blue, or a pale pink indicates that you need to call a veterinarian.
Membrane Color – Pink – Normal Call a vet? NO
Membrane Color – Pale to White – anemia or shock – Call a ver? Yes immediately.
Membrane color – blue – smoke inhalation or suffocation – Call a vet? Yes immediately.
Membrane color – Bright Cherry red – Carbon Monoxide poisoning – call a vet? Yes immediately.
Membrane color – Yellow – Liver problems – Call a vet? Yes, same day.
Capillary Refill Time 1 to 2 seconds
By pressing down on the gum of the dog for a few seconds and then releasing, the color of the gum should return to normal in 1 to 2 seconds. If it takes longer than 3 seconds to turn back to its original color, you have an emergency. Transport your pet immediately. To perform this test on yourself as a trial, press down firmly on your fingernail, release and time the amount of time it takes for the color to return to normal.
1 to 2 seconds – normal – Call a vet? No
2 to 4 seconds – moderate to poor; possible dehydration or shock – call a vet? Yes
more than 4 seconds – Emergency! Severe problems, dehydration, shock – Call a vet? Yes Immediately.
Less than 1 second – Emergency! Severe problems, heatstroke, shock – Call a vet? Yes Immediately.
Heart Rate
For dogs, a normal heartbeat varies on size:
Small dogs (up to 20 lb) 70 to 180 Normal
Medium and large dogs (more than 20 lb) 60 to 140 Normal
Cats – 120 to 240 Normal
Puppies – (up to 6 weeks) Up to 220 normal
Kittens (up to 6 weeks) 200-300 normal
To check a dogs heart rate, feel under the left front leg where the leg meets the chest cavity. You should be able to detect a pulse there. If not, try the femoral artery which is located under the back leg in the groin area. Count the beats in 15 seconds and multiply by 4. Repeat two or three times to make sure you get an accurate reading.
If your dog’s pulse rate is outside the normal range, contact your vet immediately.
Normal respiratory rates:
Most dogs breathe 10 to 30 times a minute; cats rate is 10 to 40 times a minute. Monitor respiration when the pet is resting quietly. Anything other than quiet, effortless breathing requires medical attention and prossibly artificial respiration. Note warning signs.
Effortless breathing, quiet to soundless – Normal – call a vet? NO
Increased respiratory rate – First sign of breathing problems – Call the vet? Yes, immediately, If condition is worsening. If respiratory rate is increased but problems is not worsening, call the vet the same day.
Excessive panting or gasping; dogs stand with elbows outward, cats sit crouched with head and neck extended. – Emergency! Progression to early respiratory failure! Call a vet? Yes, immediately!
Labored, open-mouthed breathing and blue gums; Emergency! Pulmonary failure; pet is suffocating. Call a vet? Yes immediately.
Slowed, shallow, or stopped breathing. Unconsciousness imminent; Emergency! Respiratory collapse; prepare for artificial respiration, Call a vet? Yes immediately.
Breathing Pattern
Determining the breathing pattern is also important. In a normal breath, the chest expands as the breath enters the chest. The chest then sinks as the breath leaves the chest. Exhalation requires no effort. If you notice your pet using his abdominal muscles to breath, gasping, making loud noises, taking shallow breaths, panting excessively or exhalation seems to be difficult, consult your veterinarian immediately.
If you are unsure if your pet is breathing, place a cotton ball or tissue immediately in front of the nose and mouth. If you see movement of the cotton or tissue, your pet is still breathing. Another method is to use a mirror. Place the mirror in front of the pet's mouth and nose. If you see condensation on the mirror, your pet is still breathing.
Responsiveness
Normal, healthy pets are usually alert, curious, and responsive.
Pet is depressed, response slow to sight or touch stimulation, may appear sleepy or reluctant to move – Common to many illnesses – Call a vet/ Yes, next day if the condition does not resolve with first aid.
Pet is disoriented; bumps into objects, stares blindly, walks with unsteady gait or in circles, falls over to one side – Probably neurological or inner ear involvement – Call a vet? Yes, same day.
Pet is in a stupor, can be aroused only by deep pain stimulation (ie pinched toes) – Neurological or metabolic problems; serious. – Call a vet? Yes Immediately.
Pet is comatose (unable to wake) or having seizures – Emergency! Severe neurological damage or disruption from injury, disease or toxin. – Call a vet? Yes Immediately.
Top Ten Triage Priorities in order of urgency – treat these conditions before anything else in an emergency situation, then take care of your pet’s other problems.
1. Stopped breathing, no pulse
2. Stopped breathing, with pulse
3. Loss of consciousness
4. Shock, pale gums, rapid breathing, weak; rapid pulse; cold skin
5. Difficulty breathing
6. Chest puncture or gaping wound
7. Severe bleeding
8. Abdominal puncture or gaping wound
9. Extremes of body temperature, too hot or too cold
10. Poisoning stings, toxins, snakebites, etc.
How to transport an injured animal
Small dogs and cats may be lifted gently as shown. Be careful not to obstruct the airway.
Medium sized dogs may be lifted as shown.
Large dogs should always be lifted in a blanket or similar item.
In dogs, DEA 1.1 (Dog Erythrocyte Antigen) has been found to be the part of the blood type most likely to cause a transfusion reaction. The blood type in dogs is either DEA 1.1 positive or DEA 1.1 negative. There are however, other parts to the canine blood type, including DEA 1.2, DEA 3, DEA 4, DEA 5 and DEA 7. In order to determine the full blood type, blood needs to be submitted to a special laboratory.
Do you have an x-ray of your dog’s vital organs? It may be worth the expense to have an x-ray taken of your dog’s heart and lungs. This x-ray may become vital if needed for a comparison in the future.
