Measures SpO2 (the saturation of peripheral oxygen – how much hemoglobin in the red blood cells is carrying a full load of oxygen) and pulse rate. You can use a watch with a second hand or the stopwatch function on your phone. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. I. Pulse Oximetry A. The pulse oximeter measures how much oxygen is attached to the hemoglobin molecules within the red blood cells. You can measure your dog’s pulse by following these steps: Place the ball of two fingers (not your thumb) on the depression found in your dog’s inner upper thigh, over the Femoral artery. His pulse is 50-68 bpm and he's a beagle mix - 29 lbs, and 3 yrs old in good health as far as I know. For puppies up to six weeks old: up to 220 bpm. Small breeds and puppies have the fastest heart rates, with slower … A fast heart rate might just indicate your dog is anxious. The vet is most likely right on this occasion -- he may have suffered brain damage from the seizure. In most cases, the heart rate will be the same as the pulse rate, but when the two rates don’t match up, it could be a sign that the blood, for some reason or another, is having a hard time reaching or passing into the arteries. 3. The pulse can be felt anywhere an artery runs close to the surface of the skin. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. “Pulse deficits are present when the pulse rate is less than the heart rate. On a Live Animal Measuring Blood Pressure Location on forelimb- between elbow and carpus Location on hind limb- between stifle and hock Palpate the pulse … Her work has appeared in several print and … This article has been viewed 64,227 times. Then, multiply that number by 4 to get the number of beats per minute. If your dog can hold still for a minute, that’s great, but if he can’t, here’s a quick trick to make taking your dog’s pulse much quicker: Simply count your dog’s pulse up to 15 seconds and then multiply the number you obtained times four. The correct answer is B, the pulse of the dog can be found by the femur. This occurs because a cardiac contraction or several contractions take place prematurely not allowing enough time for ventricular filling (preload). About the author: Adrienne Farricelli is a certified dog trainer and behavior consultant. A pulse rate under 20 bpm suggests low body temperature, heart disease, pressure on the brain, or a possible preterminal state with an impending collapse of circulation. If none of this works, place your hand of the dogs left side, just behind the front leg. If you’re concerned about what you’re finding, discuss your results with your veterinarian.” ~Dr. In puppies, the pulse ranges from 120 to 160 beats per minute. Is it a stroke? Once you've found its pulse, set a stopwatch for 15 seconds, and count the beats. If your dog has an abnormal heart rate or is showing concerning symptoms, please see your vet immediately. Small dogs, puppies, and dogs who are out of shape will have faster heartbeats, and large dogs and those in good physical condition will have slower rates. “Normal” ranges from 60 to 140 beats per minute in a resting dog — 60 to … See a vet immediately. This is a normal condition called sinus arrhythmia. Knowing whether your dog's heart is beating at the right speed can be very important if you believe your dog may be hurt or sick. Hence, puppies have a fast pulse, it exceeds up to 220 beats every minute. Pulse palpation is an important part of the vascular physical examination. The femoral artery is the main artery that runs by the internal part of the thigh traveling to the bottom of the dog’s rear legs so to s… Multiply this number by four to get your dog's resting pulse rate in beats per minute. Normally, a dog’s pulse is rhythmic and strong. A fast pulse can be indicative of  anxiety, exercise, pain or a  fever. Hard or Soft Pulse. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. You can find a pulse in several places on a dog (or cat) The most strongest is the femoral, this is in the inner thigh/groin area, its the main artery running down the back legs, there is also the digital, this can be found, just above the pads of the paw, slightly up the leg, the coccygeal can be found, under the tail (on … site where the pulse is felt. Take him back to the vet if he continues to deteriorate. Alternatively, you can measure your dog's pulse by placing your hand over its rib cage, just behind one of its front legs. Press your thumb inwards from underneath the angle of the jaw. One can even try keeping their eyes shut to help concentrate more on finding the pulse. What should a dog's pulse be? Lay your pet down, on either side. Often an elusive pulse can be found by gently working a fingertip toward the cat’s femur in the area of the femoral triangle, where the femoral artery enters the leg between the dorsomedial thigh muscles. It may be easier to find the femoral artery when your dog is standing by simply feeling where the rear leg meets the abdomen. It is essential to try and eliminate all other surrounding noises and to try and stay focused. A Variety of … If you use your thumb, you may end up feeling your own pulse, especially if you press too hard. You can feel your dog’s heart beat with your hand on your dog’s left side behind the front leg, or you can check the inside of the top of your dog’s hind leg. When you look at most average timings for a dog’s pulse it will be given in minutes (bpm). Part of the series: Dog Health. Generally,  puppies and small dogs have a pulse ranging from 120 to 160 beats per minute, while dogs over 30 pounds tend to have a lower pulse, usually between 60 to 120 minutes, explains veterinarian Dr.  Debra Primovic. The pulse may be palpated in any place that allows an artery to be compressed near the surface of the body, such as at the neck (carotid artery), wrist (radial artery), at the groin (femoral artery), behind the knee … In a normal dog or cat, we expect the oxygen … If your regular vet is not available to see your dog right away, search online for an emergency veterinary facility near you. A pulse can often be felt in this way. All you need is a stopwatch and your hand. Once you locate your dog’s femoral artery when your dog is standing, you may then want to practice locating it when your dog is lying on his side, as in most emergencies the pulse is checked when a dog is unconscious. He is shaking and his BPM is 139 over 60, is that normal? References. 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