How to Check a Dog's Pulse


How to Check a Dog's Pulsethumbnail
A dog's heart beat and pulse rate can vary by age, breed and size.
Knowing your dog's regular pulse rate can help you and your veterinarian in an emergency. The number of heart rates for dogs can vary wildly depending on size and age, and even then can vary depending upon breed. Taking your dog's pulse, as well as knowing what's normal for him can help you determine whether or not you have an emergency situation.


Difficulty:
 
Easy

Instructions

things you'll need:

  • Dog
  • Watch
  1. The Inner Thigh

    • 1
      Lay your dog down. The side you lay her on does not matter.
    • 2
      Lift her back legs apart gently.
    • 3
      Place your index and middle fingers as high up as possible on the inside of either leg. The place you are looking for is where the leg meets the body. Use a light touch. If you press too hard, you will not feel a pulse when you look for it.
    • 4
      With your other hand, feel for the pulse. You should feel it half way between the front and back of the leg. A small recess should be present in the leg, where the blood vessels run.
    • 5
      Count the number of beats per minute. This is your dog's pulse.

    Directly Over the Heart

    • 1
      Place your dog on her right side.
    • 2
      Bend her left leg at the elbow, gently.
    • 3
      Bring the elbow back so that it touches the chest.
    • 4
      Place your index and middle finger over the area where the elbow touches the chest. This is approximately the fifth rib.
    • 5
      Count the number of beats per minute. This is your dog's pulse.

    Wrist

    • 1
      Have the animal sit or lie down.
    • 2
      Take the dog's paw in your hand.
    • 3
      Locate the area in the middle of the underside of the paw, directly above the paw pad.
    • 4
      Place your index and middle finger on this spot.
    • 5
      Feel for a pulse.

    Ankle

    • 1
      Have your dog sit or lie down.
    • 2
      Take your dog's hind leg in your hand.
    • 3
      Locate a spot directly above the middle of the paw pad on the bottom of the hind paw.
    • 4
      Place your index and middle finger on this spot
    • 5
      Feel for a pulse.


Tips & Warnings

  • Small, miniature, and toy breeds that weigh 30 pounds or less generally have a pulse of 100-160 beats per minute.
  • Medium and large breeds (30 pounds and over) have a heart rate of 60-100 pounds per minute
  • Puppies under 1 year old have a general heart beat of 120-160 beats per minute.
  • Whippets, a breed of dog, have a slow and arrhythmic heart beat unless they are running. Do not be alarmed by this.
  • Do not approach a scared or obviously hurt animal in attempt to take its pulse. It may bite out of fear.
  • Do not try to manipulate a dog into a laying or sitting position if it obviously hurts to do so. This may cause further injury to the dog, and the dog may strike out of fear, pain, anger or all three.


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