Veterinarians collect measurements of your dog's vital signs to determine the health of your dog whether he is in for a regular checkup or experiencing an emergency. If you'll learn how to measure your dog's vital signs yourself, you'll be able to know when he's too up or too down.
Heart Rate
According to Charlotte Veterinary Emergency and Trauma Services, the average heart rate for puppies at rest is 120 to 160 beats per minute, while dogs weighing less than 30 pounds have normal heart rates between 100 and 160 beats per minute. Any measurement below 50 or above 160 beats per minute at rest is abnormal and requires the attention of a veterinarian.
Blood Pressure
The normal measurement for systolic or contracted blood pressure is 140 to 160 mmHg, while the normal measurement for diastolic or relaxed blood pressure is less than 90 mmHg, according to Oklahoma State University. Smaller dogs typically have lower blood pressures than larger dogs, since their hearts do not need to produce much force to push the blood around their short circulatory systems.
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Writer Bio
Amanda Williams has been writing since 2009 on various writing websites and blogging since 2003. She enjoys writing about health, medicine, education and home and garden topics. Williams earned a Bachelor of Science in biology at East Stroudsburg University in May 2013. Williams is also a certified emergency medical technician.