Do you know your pets’ ‘normals’? The letters TPR stand for Temperature, Pulse and Respiration. These are the basic vital signs you should be familiar with when it comes to your adult pets. I’m going to throw a B in there to represent behavior- is the behavior you are seeing normal for your pet?

I get regular calls from animal owners claiming their pet is in the process of dying, and I am asked to address their emergency situation. Trust me, I understand how emotional and scary these times can be. Having basic information to refer to can help- Is your pet’s temperature higher than normal? Is your cat drinking more water lately? Is your horse colicky or taking his regular nap at noon (like my horse did every day)….?

A digital rectal thermometer can give you a temperature within a minute. You can lubricate the thermometer with Vaseline or olive oil to make insertion much easier. I recommend taking the time to get your pet comfortable with this procedure as some animals consider it to be very rude. The temperature of dogs and cats can range from 100.0 to 102.2. Horses have a range of 99.0 to 101.0 and goats run a little higher at 102.0 to 103.0. Consider all the factors when establishing whether your pet has a normal (for them) temperature- Is it a hot day? Did your pet just exercise?

Getting a heart rate can be done with a stethoscope or you can palpate with your fingers. Press the stethoscope (or your palm) over the rib cage just behind the left elbow. Obtaining a resting heart rate as well as an exercising heart rate can give you an idea of your pet’s range. In dogs, the heart rate can be from 60-160 per minute and cats’ heart rates can be between 140-220 per minute. Horses are between 38-45 and goats are between 70-90 beats per minute.

Respirations are also counted per minute- simply watch and count for 15 seconds, then multiply by 4. Dogs range from 16-32 breaths per minute and cats can range from 20-42 breaths per minute. Horses take about 10-24 and goats tend to take 10-30 breaths per minute. Observe your pet’s breathing regularly, so you will notice any changes- Does your pet suddenly have labored breathing?

Observe, stay informed and know the basics about your pets. Next month- Concerning Behaviors Indicating Pain.

Cathy Riehm

After growing up showing horses, Cathy Sue Riehm moved on to graduate from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in Animal and Dairy Science, majoring in Equine Reproduction. One day after graduation, she started as Veterinary Technician II in the Large Animal Teaching Hospital at UGA, working with horses, cows, llamas, donkeys, sheep, goats and exotic animals. Four years later, she moved to Colorado to work for a laarge animal and exotics veterinarian, a camel breeder/trainer and an exotic animal rescue facility. After moving to California, Cathy Sue has worked for several veterinarians, and has also worked closely with giraffes, zebras, antelope and donkeys. Cathy Sue has attended over a dozen veterinary technician conferences and seminars, including the Giraffe Hoof Trimming Conference in CO. She is currently finishing an Associate’s degree in Veterinary Technology. Her experience (professional and personal) and education has been focused on behavior, training, husbandry and medicine, especially hoof health and hoof trimming.