---
title: "Normal Temperature, Heart Rate and Breathing Rate in Dogs and Cats"
url: https://pawmultiverse.com/normal-temperature-heart-rate-and-breathing-in-dogs-and-cats/
description: "Normal resting values from the Animal Medical Center: temperature 100 to 102.5°F, breathing 18 to 34 a minute in dogs and 16 to 30 in cats, heart rate by dog size and about 140 to 180 in cats. How to count them at home."
source: Paw Multiverse (https://pawmultiverse.com), free to cite with a link
---

# Normal Temperature, Heart Rate and Breathing Rate in Dogs and Cats

Published by Paw Multiverse (A.I.T. Multiverse Consulting Ltd) · Last updated 7 November 2026

**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](https://pawmultiverse.com/disclaimer/).

## 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)](https://www.amcny.org/pet_health_library/vital-signs/).

## 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)](https://www.amcny.org/pet_health_library/vital-signs/). Gum colour has its own page: [gum colour check](https://pawmultiverse.com/pet-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](https://pawmultiverse.com/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)](https://www.amcny.org/pet_health_library/vital-signs/).

## Sources

- [Animal Medical Center (New York), Vital signs: know what is normal for your pet (updated 23 October 2025)](https://www.amcny.org/pet_health_library/vital-signs/), read 7 November 2026.

## Related pages

[Gum colour check](https://pawmultiverse.com/pet-gum-colour-check/), [breathing and panting](https://pawmultiverse.com/why-does-my-dog-pant/), [hypothermia and frostbite](https://pawmultiverse.com/hypothermia-and-frostbite-in-dogs-and-cats/) and [heatstroke](https://pawmultiverse.com/pet-heatstroke-first-aid/).

**Is your pet's food on a recall list?** Check the barcode on the bag against five official registers in the US, UK, Canada and France. [Check your bag](https://pawmultiverse.com/check-your-bag/) · [Recalls this week](https://pawmultiverse.com/pet-food-recalls/this-week/)