Why Resting Heart Rate Matters
Resting heart rate (RHR) is one of the most accessible and informative vital signs you can measure at home. Changes in resting heart rate — either elevation or new irregularities — can be among the earliest detectable signs of heart disease, pain, infection, anemia, or metabolic dysfunction. In breeds predisposed to cardiac disease, such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (mitral valve disease), Doberman Pinschers (dilated cardiomyopathy), and Boxers (arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy), home heart rate monitoring provides an early warning system between veterinary visits.
A single heart rate measurement provides limited information. The real value comes from establishing your dog’s personal baseline and tracking it over time. A resting heart rate that gradually increases from 70 to 95 beats per minute over several months may indicate developing congestive heart failure, even before coughing or exercise intolerance appears.
Normal Resting Heart Rate Ranges by Size
These ranges apply to dogs at rest (calm, lying down, not recently exercised):
| Size Category | Typical RHR (bpm) | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Toy breeds (<5 kg) | 100-140 | Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier |
| Small breeds (5-10 kg) | 80-120 | Dachshund, Shih Tzu |
| Medium breeds (10-25 kg) | 70-110 | Beagle, Border Collie |
| Large breeds (25-45 kg) | 60-100 | Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd |
| Giant breeds (>45 kg) | 50-90 | Great Dane, English Mastiff |
Athletic, well-conditioned dogs often have resting heart rates at the lower end of their size range. Puppies typically have faster heart rates than adults of the same breed.
What You Need
- A clock or watch with a second hand (or a phone timer)
- A quiet environment where your dog is calm and relaxed
- Your hands (no equipment needed for the femoral pulse technique)
- Optionally: a stethoscope placed behind the left elbow for direct auscultation
Step-by-Step: Measuring Heart Rate via Femoral Pulse
Step 1: Wait for true rest
Measure heart rate when your dog has been resting quietly for at least 15-20 minutes. Post-exercise, post-excitement, and post-meal heart rates will be elevated and do not represent the true resting rate. The best time is often in the evening when your dog is relaxed or first thing in the morning.
Step 2: Position your dog
Your dog can be lying on their side (ideal) or standing. Side-lying is preferred because it allows the easiest access to the femoral artery and the dog is most relaxed.
Step 3: Locate the femoral artery
The femoral artery runs along the inner thigh. With your dog lying on their side:
- Find the point where the hind leg meets the body (the groin area).
- Place your index and middle fingers (not your thumb — your thumb has its own pulse) on the inner thigh, roughly in the center of the upper leg where it meets the groin.
- Press gently — too much pressure will occlude the artery and obliterate the pulse. Use light to moderate pressure.
- You should feel a rhythmic pulsation. It may take a few attempts to find the correct spot.
Step 4: Count beats for a timed interval
Once you have located the pulse:
- Count beats for 15 seconds and multiply by 4, or
- Count beats for 30 seconds and multiply by 2, or
- Count beats for a full 60 seconds (most accurate)
The 60-second count is recommended when learning the technique, as it reduces the amplification of counting errors.
Step 5: Assess rhythm
While counting, note whether the beats feel regular (evenly spaced) or irregular. In dogs, a mild irregularity that correlates with breathing (heart rate speeds up slightly on inspiration, slows on expiration) is normal and called sinus arrhythmia. This is actually a sign of good vagal tone and cardiac health. Irregular rhythms that feel chaotic, with dropped beats, or with distinctly premature beats warrant veterinary evaluation with an ECG-based cardiac assessment.
Step 6: Record the result
Log the heart rate, date, time, and any relevant context (e.g., “60 bpm, regular rhythm, evening rest” or “92 bpm, seemed restless”). Consistent documentation reveals trends that single measurements cannot.
Alternative Methods
Stethoscope auscultation: Place a stethoscope bell just behind the left elbow, where the heart is closest to the chest wall. Count the audible heartbeats. This method is more accurate than femoral palpation but requires a stethoscope and some practice.
Chest wall palpation: Place your hand flat against the left chest wall behind the elbow. In thin-chested dogs, you can feel the heartbeat (apex beat) through the chest wall. Less reliable in deep-chested or obese dogs.
Wearable monitors: Activity trackers designed for dogs (wearable tracking devices) can provide continuous heart rate data. These are useful for trend analysis but should be calibrated against manual measurements.
What Abnormal Rates May Indicate
Persistently elevated RHR (tachycardia):
- Pain (one of the most common causes of elevated heart rate in dogs)
- Fever or infection
- Anemia
- Early congestive heart failure
- Hyperthyroidism (rare in dogs, common in cats)
- Anxiety or stress
Persistently low RHR (bradycardia):
- Athletic conditioning (normal in well-exercised dogs)
- Hypothyroidism
- Certain cardiac conduction disorders (sick sinus syndrome, high-grade AV block)
- Elevated intracranial pressure (emergency)
Irregular rhythm:
- Sinus arrhythmia (normal, correlates with breathing)
- Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) — feel like a “skipped beat” followed by a stronger-than-normal beat
- Atrial fibrillation — chaotically irregular rhythm, common in giant breeds with dilated cardiomyopathy
Monitoring for At-Risk Breeds
For breeds with known cardiac predispositions, regular home heart rate monitoring is especially valuable:
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniels: Monitor for gradual heart rate elevation that may precede mitral valve disease progression. Resting respiratory rate monitoring (breaths per minute while sleeping) is equally important — rates consistently above 30 bpm while sleeping suggest fluid accumulation.
- Doberman Pinschers: Watch for irregular rhythms. DCM-related arrhythmias can precede clinical signs by months. Annual Holter monitoring is the gold standard, supplemented by home pulse checks.
- Boxers: Prone to ventricular arrhythmias. Irregular pulses on home checks warrant prompt veterinary evaluation.
- Great Danes: Dilated cardiomyopathy screening should begin by age 2-3. Home heart rate trends provide additional data between cardiac screening appointments.
Medical Disclaimer
This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary advice. Consult a licensed veterinarian for health decisions specific to your dog.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I check my dog’s resting heart rate? For healthy dogs, a weekly or biweekly check is sufficient to establish and track a baseline. For dogs with known or suspected heart disease, daily monitoring may be recommended by your veterinarian. The key is consistency — measuring at approximately the same time of day under similar conditions.
I cannot find the femoral pulse — what am I doing wrong? The most common issues are pressing too hard (which occludes the artery), placing fingers too far from the groin, or the dog being too tense. Try when your dog is deeply relaxed or sleepy. Use very light pressure — barely more than resting your fingers against the skin. In overweight dogs, the pulse may be harder to locate; the stethoscope method may be easier.
My dog’s heart rate is 120 bpm — is that too high? It depends on the dog’s size, activity state, and emotional state. For a toy breed at rest, 120 bpm is within normal range. For a large breed at rest, 120 bpm is elevated and warrants investigation. Context matters: a 120 bpm rate taken immediately after play is not concerning; the same rate after 20 minutes of rest is.
Can I use my smartwatch or fitness tracker on my dog? Human wearable devices are not calibrated for canine anatomy and will not provide accurate heart rate readings on dogs. Dog-specific wearable monitors are available and are becoming increasingly reliable, though they should be validated against manual measurement or veterinary assessment.
What is the difference between heart rate and respiratory rate? Heart rate is the number of heartbeats per minute, measured by pulse palpation or auscultation. Respiratory rate is the number of breaths per minute, measured by watching the chest rise and fall. Both are important vital signs. For dogs with heart disease, sleeping respiratory rate (normal: under 30 breaths per minute) is particularly valuable for detecting early fluid accumulation in the lungs.