How to Check a Dog's Pulse: A Step-by-Step Guide

To check your dog's pulse, gently place two fingers on the inside of the upper hind leg, near the groin, and feel for beats. Count the beats for 15 seconds, then multiply by four to estimate beats per minute. If your dog is unresponsive and not breathing normally, seek emergency help and start CPR instead of searching for a pulse.

Knowing your dog's usual resting pulse can help you notice changes and share useful information with your veterinarian.

You don't need special equipment. Just your fingers, a timer, and a calm dog.

Here's how to find the pulse, count it correctly, and know when a change needs attention.

Where Can You Find a Dog's Pulse?

The best place to feel a dog's arterial pulse at home is usually the femoral artery, located on the inside of the upper hind leg, near the groin.

This artery carries blood toward the hind leg. Each heartbeat creates a pressure wave that travels through the artery. You can feel that wave as a gentle beat beneath your fingers.

The Merck Veterinary Manual identifies the femoral artery as the usual place to check an arterial pulse in dogs.

To find it, gently place two fingertips on the soft inner thigh, close to where the leg meets the body. Move your fingers slightly until you feel a steady tapping sensation.

You shouldn't need to press hard. In fact, too much pressure may make the pulse harder to feel.

How Is a Dog's Pulse Different From Its Heartbeat?

A heartbeat is the heart squeezing to pump blood. A pulse is the pressure wave that moves through an artery when the heart pumps.

They usually happen at the same rate, but they aren't exactly the same measurement.

You may feel your dog's heartbeat on the left side of the chest, just behind the elbow. Checking the femoral artery, however, lets you feel the pulse in a blood vessel.

Sometimes, an abnormal heartbeat may not create a strong enough pulse to feel in the hind leg.

What about the neck? Although you may notice movement around the neck's blood vessels, the jugular vein is not an artery. For a routine home pulse check, the inner thigh is a more practical starting point.

How to Check Your Dog's Pulse Step by Step

It's easier to learn this skill when your dog is healthy and relaxed, rather than during an emergency.

The first few attempts may take practice. Some dogs have an easily detectable pulse, while others may be harder to check.

Follow these steps to make the process comfortable and consistent.

Step 1: Help Your Dog Relax

Find a quiet spot where your dog feels safe.

Let them sit, stand, or lie down in a position they already find comfortable. You don't need to force your dog onto their side.

Avoid checking right after running, playing fetch, or becoming excited. These activities can temporarily increase the heart rate.

Instead, allow your dog to rest before taking a measurement.

If your dog pulls away, growls, or seems uncomfortable, stop. Never force a frightened or painful dog to stay still for a routine pulse check.

Step 2: Locate the Femoral Artery

Position yourself near your dog's hindquarters.

Using your index and middle fingers, gently touch the inside of the upper hind leg, close to the groin.

Move your fingertips a short distance along the inner thigh until you feel a repeated, gentle tapping sensation.

Start with light pressure. Adjust slightly if you cannot detect the pulse.

Avoid digging into the muscle or squeezing the leg.

Don't use your thumb. Because your thumb has its own pulse, it may confuse the reading.

If your dog has thick fur or a larger body, finding the artery may take more practice. Your veterinarian can demonstrate the location during a routine appointment.

Step 3: Feel and Count the Beats

Once you've found the pulse, hold your fingertips in place.

Use a phone timer, wristwatch, or clock to count the beats for 15 seconds.

Each distinct beat counts as one.

Try not to move your hand while counting. If your dog shifts position and you lose the pulse, start again once they're settled.

A 15-second count works well for a quick estimate when the rhythm feels regular.

If the pulse seems uneven, you can count for a full minute to record what you notice. However, don't use a longer count to decide whether an irregular rhythm is harmless. Contact your veterinarian for advice.

Step 4: Calculate Beats Per Minute

Your dog's pulse rate is measured in beats per minute, often shortened to BPM.

The calculation is simple:

Number of beats in 15 seconds × 4 = estimated BPM

Suppose you count 22 beats during 15 seconds.

Multiply 22 by four, giving you 88 BPM.

You can also count for 30 seconds and multiply by two.

A longer count may help reduce counting mistakes, especially when the pulse is easy to feel but slightly difficult to follow.

Remember, an 88 BPM reading is just an example. Whether a particular reading is expected depends on your dog's size, age, health, and condition during the measurement.

Step 5: Record Your Dog's Resting Pulse

After measuring the pulse, make a quick note of the result.

Include the date, time, BPM, and what your dog was doing before you checked.

For example:

Monday, 9 a.m. — 88 BPM — resting after breakfast — breathing comfortably.

Take readings on several calm days rather than relying on one measurement.

This helps you learn what's usual for your dog and gives your veterinarian useful information if something changes.

If your dog already has a heart condition, follow your veterinarian's specific monitoring instructions. They may recommend particular times, measurement methods, or reasons to call.

What Is a Normal Pulse Rate for a Dog?

There isn't one heart rate that's normal for every dog.

A dog's size, age, fitness, activity, and health all affect the number of beats per minute.

Small dogs often have faster heart rates than large dogs. Puppies can also have faster heartbeats than adult dogs.

The Merck Veterinary Manual's triage reference lists the following clinical values:

Merck Veterinary Manual

Dog size  |  Reference heart rate

Small dogs  |  70–120 BPM

Large dogs  |  60–120 BPM

These numbers come from veterinary triage guidance. They should not be treated as strict limits that apply to every dog resting at home.

Other veterinary references may give different ranges depending on the dogs being assessed.

A dog that just finished running may have a faster pulse than the same dog sleeping peacefully. Stress, pain, medication, fever, and illness can also change the rate.

A reading outside a published range doesn't automatically mean your dog has heart disease. Similarly, a reading within a range doesn't prove everything is fine.

What's most helpful is understanding your dog's usual resting pattern while watching how they breathe, move, and behave.

What Do Pulse Rhythm and Strength Tell You?

Besides the number of beats, notice whether the pulse feels steady.

A regular pulse has beats that follow a fairly even pattern. An irregular pulse may feel uneven or seem to skip beats.

Pulse strength describes how easily you can feel each beat.

A pulse may seem weak because your fingers aren't positioned correctly. But changes in circulation can also affect pulse strength.

The Merck Veterinary Manual's heart-disease reference explains that pulse findings can help veterinarians assess circulation and heart function.

If your dog's resting pulse repeatedly feels irregular, unusually fast, slow, or weak, contact your veterinarian.

Don't attempt to diagnose a heart problem from the pulse alone.

What If You Can't Feel Your Dog's Pulse?

If your dog is awake, breathing comfortably, and behaving normally, difficulty finding the pulse may simply mean you need to adjust your technique.

Try moving your two fingertips a little farther along the inner upper thigh.

Use gentle pressure and keep your fingers still for a moment. Pressing too firmly can make the pulse harder to detect.

You may also have trouble if your dog is moving, has thick fur, or has extra tissue around the upper leg.

If your dog is restless, stop and try another time.

Avoid checking repeatedly if it makes your dog uncomfortable. A veterinarian can show you how to find the femoral artery during a regular visit.

However, if your dog becomes very weak, has trouble breathing, or collapses, don't continue practicing. Seek emergency veterinary assistance.

Can You Check Your Dog's Heartbeat Instead?

Yes. You can try feeling your dog's heartbeat on the left side of the chest, just behind the elbow.

Rest your hand gently against the chest while your dog is calm. You may feel a steady beat through the chest wall.

This can be useful when the femoral pulse is difficult to locate.

However, feeling a heartbeat isn't the same as measuring an arterial pulse. A heartbeat check alone cannot confirm that blood is circulating normally.

If you're unable to find either one during a routine home check, ask your veterinarian to demonstrate the technique.

When Should You Contact a Veterinarian About Your Dog's Pulse?

Contact your veterinarian if your dog's pulse repeatedly seems unusual while resting, especially when it differs significantly from their usual readings.

An unexpected number may have several causes. Sometimes it's related to stress or activity. Other times, illness or a heart condition may be involved.

Pay attention to other symptoms, too.

Warning signs that need immediate emergency veterinary care include:

• Collapse or sudden loss of consciousness

• Severe weakness or an inability to stand

• Difficulty breathing or unusual breathing effort

• Blue, gray, or unusually pale gums

• A rapidly worsening condition

Don't spend time calculating BPM when your dog is clearly struggling.

Your veterinarian may use an examination, an electrocardiogram (ECG), or other tests to understand a concerning heart rhythm.

What If Your Dog Is Unresponsive and Not Breathing Normally?

If your dog is unresponsive and isn't breathing normally, treat it as a medical emergency.

The 2026 RECOVER first-aid guidelines advise a single lay rescuer to begin chest compressions promptly rather than delaying to search for a pulse.

Call for help and arrange emergency veterinary care.

For single-rescuer CPR, the guidelines recommend 30 chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths when safe, with compressions delivered at 100–120 per minute.

If giving rescue breaths puts the rescuer at risk, chest-compression-only CPR is advised.

For detailed instructions on chest compressions, rescue breathing, and responding to cardiac arrest, our guide to CPR for dogs explains the steps every dog owner should understand.

You can also explore our pet CPR guide for broader emergency-response guidance covering both dogs and cats.

Remember that CPR is emergency support. It does not replace professional veterinary treatment.

Learn More About Responding to Pet Emergencies

Checking your dog's pulse is one useful skill. But responding to a serious breathing or cardiac emergency requires more knowledge.

If you also care for cats, our cat CPR guide explains why emergency response differs between dogs and cats.

US Compliance Institute offers Pet CPR Training, a self-paced online course covering emergency assessment, airway management, rescue breathing, and chest compressions for dogs and cats.

The course includes approximately 3.5 hours of learning across five modules and 20 lectures.

It is designed for dog owners, pet sitters, dog walkers, groomers, kennel workers, and other animal caregivers. Learners who complete the course requirements receive a Professional Certificate of Completion.

The course does not replace veterinary care, professional veterinary qualifications, or separate clinical CPR credentials. Anyone whose job requires a particular recognized qualification should check those requirements before enrolling.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to check a dog's pulse makes it easier to understand your pet's usual resting heart rate.

Use two fingers on the inner upper hind leg, count the beats, and record your findings.

Practice when your dog feels relaxed and comfortable. Over time, the process should become more familiar.

Most importantly, use the reading alongside your dog's behavior and other symptoms.

Keeping a pet emergency kit checklist can also help you organize essential supplies and emergency contact information before you need them.

A pulse check is useful, but it should never delay veterinary care or appropriate CPR during a life-threatening emergency.