Know what's normal to know when your dog has problems

You should perform a “dog inspection” or an at home health check often on your dog. By knowing what is normal for your dog and what is not, you will be better able to assess an emergency. Note what color your dog’s gums normally are and what the capillary refill time is. Take your dog’s pulse and check his breathing rate.    Dog Inspections are also great for catching potential problems. Be sure to check your dog’s teeth for tartar build up and breaks, your dog’s feet for cuts or things stuck between their toes and your dog’s ears for signs of infection. Also be sure to check for fleas and ticks.

Heart Rate and Pulse

Heartbeat - Lay dog on right side, bring elbow back to where it touches the chest, place your hand or stethoscope over this area to feel or hear and count heartbeats.
Pulse - Pulse can be felt with a light touch using your middle and index finger at three locations:   Inner thigh, just below the wrist, and just below the ankle.

Normal Heart Rate and Pulse

Small, miniature, or toy breed (30 pounds or less): 100-160 beats per minute
Medium to large breed (over 30 pounds): 60-100 beats per minute
Puppy (until one year old): 120-160 beats per minute

Breathing Rate

Have the dog lie on his side and count the number of times in one minute that the chest rises and falls.

Mucous Membrane Color

By observing the color of your pet’s mucous membranes, you can determine if enough oxygen is making it into the animal’s blood stream.  To check the color of mucous membranes, lift the animal’s lip and observe the color of the gums or inner lip.  Some breeds have black (pigmented) mucous membranes. If this is so, gently pull down and observe the color  of the inner lower eyelid.  Normal  color is pink.
Blue, pale, yellow, white, brick red or brown mucous membrane colors are signs of an emergency medical condition.

Capillary Refill Time

This is the time it takes the gums or inner lips to return to their normal pink color after you press them.  This is a quick way to see if blood circulation is normal.   Press lightly on the gums or inner lip and observe the color as it turns white and pink again.  Normal refill time is one to two seconds.  Capillary refill times of less than one second or more than three seconds are a medical emergency.

Dehydration

Pull up the skin on the back of your dog’s neck, it should spring back to normal position within one to two seconds. If this is delayed, your dog is dehydrated. Another sign of dehydration is dry, sticky gums.     
Please use caution when handling an injured or sick animal. Even your own sweet dog, who otherwise would never be aggressive, may bite when frightened or in pain.