Normal Temperature, Heart Rate and Breathing Rate in Dogs and Cats
Short answer. The Animal Medical Center in New York gives these resting ranges: temperature 100 to 102.5°F (about 37.8 to 39.2°C) for dogs and cats; breathing 18 to 34 breaths a minute in dogs and 16 to 30 in cats; heart rate 90 to 120 in small dogs, 70 to 110 in medium dogs, 60 to 90 in large dogs and about 140 to 180 in cats. Not veterinary advice.
On this page (4 sections)
The normal ranges
| At rest | Dogs | Cats |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 100 to 102.5°F (about 37.8 to 39.2°C) | 100 to 102.5°F (about 37.8 to 39.2°C) |
| Breathing rate | 18 to 34 breaths a minute | 16 to 30 breaths a minute |
| Heart rate | Small 90 to 120, medium 70 to 110, large 60 to 90 beats a minute | About 140 to 180 beats a minute |
The Celsius figures are our conversion of the Animal Medical Center's Fahrenheit range. Source: Animal Medical Center (New York), Vital signs: know what is normal for your pet (updated 23 October 2025).
How to count them at home
- Breathing: count each rise and fall of the chest as one breath for 30 seconds, and double it.
- Heart rate: put your hand over the heart, where the left elbow meets the chest, or two fingers on the inside of the back leg, count for 30 seconds and double it.
- Temperature: the Animal Medical Center describes using a lubricated, fast-reading rectal thermometer with a helper holding the pet still.
It suggests practising when your pet is calm, so you know what is normal for your own animal. Source: Animal Medical Center (New York), Vital signs: know what is normal for your pet (updated 23 October 2025). Gum colour has its own page: gum colour check.
When to call the vet
The Animal Medical Center says stress and room temperature can change these numbers, and that any change from your pet's usual baseline is worth a call to your vet, especially with no clear cause. Struggling to breathe, collapse or pale gums are emergencies: pet emergency: what to do now. Source: Animal Medical Center (New York), Vital signs: know what is normal for your pet (updated 23 October 2025).
Sources
- Animal Medical Center (New York), Vital signs: know what is normal for your pet (updated 23 October 2025), read 7 November 2026.
Related pages
Gum colour check, breathing and panting, hypothermia and frostbite and heatstroke.