How to Measure Heart Rate at Home

HeartQ&AMeongsiljang Veterinary Advisory Board

Here’s a guide on how to accurately measure your dog or cat’s heart rate at home, normal ranges by breed and weight, and warning signs that indicate it’s time to visit the vet.

How to Measure Heart Rate at Home

A pet owner's hand taking the pulse on the inner thigh of a puppy

Home heart rate monitoring is a simple health check that allows pet owners to directly count their dog or cat's pulse on the chest or inner thigh to determine beats per minute (bpm). Count the beats for 15 seconds and multiply by 4 to get the heart rate per minute. Recording these readings taken while your pet is at rest provides a valuable baseline for when they are sick and greatly assists during veterinary visits.

Why You Should Measure Heart Rate at Home

Heart rate is the simplest vital sign, reflecting not only cardiac health but also pain, stress, dehydration, and fever. Because the unfamiliar hospital environment often causes a pet’s heart rate to rise above its normal level, baseline measurements taken at home are extremely valuable for clinical evaluation. For pets diagnosed with heart disease, records kept by their owners serve as essential data for adjusting medication.

Normal Heart Rate Ranges for Dogs and Cats

Item	Resting Heart Rate (bpm)	Notes
Small Dog (under 10 kg)	90–140	Faster the lower the body weight
Medium Dog (10–25 kg)	80–120	Varies by age group
Large Dog (25 kg or more)	60–100	May be lower for athletic dogs
Puppy (under 1 year)	120–220	Higher than adult dogs, may reach up to 220 bpm
Cat	140–220	Average about 120–140 when calm at home; rises to 180–220 due to stress at the clinic

Based on veterinary internal medicine textbooks. During sleep, excitement, or right after eating, it may temporarily fall outside the range.

3 Steps to Measure Heart Rate

Step 1: Create a Calm Environment: Your pet should be lying down and in a relaxed state. Measurements taken right after running or playing may be inaccurate.

Step 2: Locate the Pulse: Place your hand on the left side of the chest (just behind the front leg, below the elbow) or gently press the inner thigh of the hind leg to find the femoral artery.

Step 3: Count for 15 Seconds and Multiply by 4: Use a stopwatch to count the number of beats for 15 seconds, then multiply by 4 to get the heart rate per minute. If the rhythm is irregular, count for 30 seconds and multiply by 2 for greater accuracy.

An illustration showing where to place your hand on a cat's chest to find its pulse.

When to Go to the Vet Immediately for Abnormal Heart Rate

If your dog’s resting heart rate stays above 180 bpm or your cat’s above 240 bpm, or if it remains below 50 bpm for dogs or 120 bpm for cats, it could be an emergency. Seek immediate care at a 24-hour animal hospital if the heartbeat is severely irregular, or if abnormal heart rate is accompanied by blue gums, fainting, or difficulty breathing.

Checklist for Abnormal Heart Rate Signs

- Rapid heart rate (tachycardia): May be caused by excitement, pain, fever, dehydration, heart disease, or hyperthyroidism (in cats). - Slow heart rate (bradycardia): Often seen in hypothermia, poisoning, cardiac conduction abnormalities, and age-related conditions. - Irregular heartbeat: Periodic changes with breathing can be normal, but random skipping or pausing may indicate arrhythmia. - Coughing or fainting: These are signs of declining heart function and should be closely monitored, especially in small-breed dogs and senior cats.

A worried pet owner watching over their senior dog

Common Mistakes When Measuring Heart Rate

Measure right after a walk: Heart rate can double immediately after exercise. For an accurate reading, let your dog rest for at least 10 minutes before measuring. If your dog is nervous: Dogs pick up on their owner’s anxiety, so if you’re tense, they’ll be too. It’s best to measure in a calm, familiar space while gently petting them to keep them relaxed. Don’t confuse heartbeats with heart sounds: Each “thump” you hear from the chest counts as one heartbeat. Be careful not to count it as two. Keeping a consistent log will help you spot irregularities faster, especially when cross-referenced with our Early Signs of Heart Disease in Dogs guide.

Check More Frequently for Small-Breed Dogs and Senior Cats

Small-breed dogs such as Maltese, Pomeranians, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have a high incidence of mitral valve disease, while cats aged 10 years and older are at increased risk for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). For these pets, checking and recording their heart rate for 15 seconds during rest periods once or twice a week can greatly help in detecting early abnormalities.

Reviewed by a veterinarian

Dr. Tony — Punnawat Phongkittirak

Veterinarian

A veterinarian who majored in veterinary medicine at Khon Kaen University, Thailand, and completed the IVSA program at North Carolina State University in the United States. Drawing on clinical experience at animal hospitals, he works in the pet healthcare field and is dedicated to building a digital care environment that connects pet parents with veterinarians.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are smartwatches or wearable devices designed for pets accurate in their measurements?

Pet heart rate monitors can be useful for reference, but fur and movement can cause significant inaccuracies. If you suspect an abnormality, always count the heart rate manually, and confirm the diagnosis with an electrocardiogram (ECG) at a veterinary clinic.

Can it be measured while sleeping?

During deep sleep, a pet’s heart rate may be slightly lower than their normal resting rate. To measure the true resting heart rate, it’s best to take the reading when your pet is awake but lying down comfortably.

How do you weigh a cat that won’t sit still?

The best position is to place your pet on your lap, gently stroke them, and naturally cup their chest with your palm. Avoid forcing them into position, as this can cause stress and spike their heart rate. Instead, aim for a time when they’re feeling sleepy after play.

My dog’s heart rate is 150 beats per minute, and he’s a small breed. Is that normal?

For small-breed dogs, a normal resting heart rate is 90–140 bpm, so 150 bpm is slightly above the normal range. However, if your dog was excited or overheated before the measurement, this could be temporary. Let them rest for 10 minutes and try measuring again. If the heart rate remains above 150 bpm on multiple readings, we recommend consulting with your veterinarian.

Should I also check their body temperature?

Yes, if your pet’s heart rate is elevated and their body temperature is also high (normal ranges are approximately 37.5–39.2°C for dogs and 38.1–39.2°C for cats), fever or infection should be suspected. Keeping a record of heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature will help the veterinarian make a much more accurate diagnosis.

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References

[1] Abbott JA. Heart rate and heart rate variability of healthy cats in home and hospital environments. J Feline Med Surg, 2005, 7(3):195–202.

[2] Ettinger SJ, Feldman EC, Cote E. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 8th Ed, Chapter: Cardiovascular Examination

[3] Smith FWK et al. Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Canine and Feline, 7th Ed, Cardiovascular Section

How to Measure Heart Rate at Home

How to Measure Heart Rate at Home

Why You Should Measure Heart Rate at Home

Normal Heart Rate Ranges for Dogs and Cats

3 Steps to Measure Heart Rate

Checklist for Abnormal Heart Rate Signs

Common Mistakes When Measuring Heart Rate

Reviewed by a veterinarian

Dr. Tony — Punnawat Phongkittirak

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Guides

References