Puppies Heart Rate: Normal, Low, And High

Dogs have different heart rates. This depends on their size, health, and age. But puppies generally have higher heart rates. They have more energy and they are growing hence their hearts beat faster. Puppies heart rate must be normal and today we will help you understand this topic so you can prevent any possible issues or complications.

Normal Heart Rate Of Puppies

Let’s start with the basics. A large and healthy dog will have a heart rate anywhere between 60 and 100 beats per second. A small dog who is also healthy will have a higher heart rate of 100-140 beats.

Puppies’ heart rate will go much higher, up to 180 beats per second. It is important to add that you need to measure the heart rate of your puppy when he is healthy and calm so you have a benchmark. You can also talk to your vet if you worry or you have a puppy whose breed is prone to heart complications. Most puppies aged up to 12 months will have a heart rate of up to 180 beats per second. 

Higher heart Rate In Puppies

If the heart rate is significantly over 180 beats per second your puppy has a high heart rate that is not good. You may believe that there are countless reasons why his heart rate is higher. Well, there are not a lot of causes. As a matter of fact, we can see three main reasons that explain the situation. Here are all of them.

• Cardiac Disease

Sadly, your puppy may have cardiac disease. This is basically a disease that affects the heart hence a higher heart rate. Tachycardia is the most common issue here. But, your puppy may suffer from congestive heart failure, dilated cardiomyopathy, and a few other issues. These are complex and you won’t be able to diagnose them at home. Just keep in mind that some of them cause irregular heart beating which can help your vet help your dog. 

Some of these diseases are genetic. It is a good thing to know if the breed you own has some predispositions for these diseases. Another good thing is that most of these diseases are easy to treat and you can end up with a healthy dog. However, this is possible only if you detect them soon. That’s why you need to know all about a healthy heart rate in puppies and when this is a problem. 

• Excited or Under Stress

Puppies can easily end up too excited which will increase their heart rate. They are excited most of the time in fact. If this is a regular issue you will have to find the cause and eliminate it. This is not something you should ignore. It is perfectly normal that a puppy is excited too much every now and then. 

On the other hand, we have stress. A puppy can be under a serious level of stress due to thunderstorms, loud noise, or when you are yelling at him. Once again, you will have to stop this and try to make him comfortable and not under stress.

• Exhausted or Feeling Hot

If your puppy is breathing too fast and you can notice a very high heart rate it may be the heat that causes that. You will have to keep the puppy in a cool room and provide him with plenty of water and ice cubes. If this doesn’t help, take him to a vet as soon as you can. The problem here can be deadly and you need to act immediately. You will know when this is the cause. The outside temperature will be very high. 

Low Heart Rate Of Puppies

If a puppy has a heart rate that is seriously below 180 beats per second it is low and you need to know why. Sadly, there is no simple explanation here. Usually, there is a disease or condition that affects heart rate. Here are some of the most common reasons.

• Overly Sedated

If your puppy is under treatment or medications of some kind, it is possible that they are causing heart rate to go down. What this means is that the dosage is too high or the heart is acting weird on that drug. You need to call your vet immediately.

• Hypothermia

This happens when your puppy is too cold. The situation is even worse if he is a vet and exposed to low temperatures for a long period of time. The best thing is to take him to a vet. If you can’t do that, try to warm him gently and monitor the condition. If the heart rate drops, even more, you must take him to a vet.

• Hypomagnesemia

When the level of magnesium is extremely low, your puppy gets Hypomagnesemia. One of the symptoms is a lower heart rate. 

• Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism affects dogs and humans. This is a condition in which the thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones. As the result, we have a much slower metabolism which will explain the lower heart rate. In a nutshell, his whole body will work in a slower regime. There are a lot of treatments for this condition. 

• Hypocalcemia

When the puppy has a very low level of calcium in the blood, he will develop Hypocalcemia. If the level drops even less, he can fall into a shock or coma. 

• Pericarditis

Pericarditis is not some simple or harmless problem. It is the inflammation of the pericardium. This is a sac that surrounds the heart of your puppy. If it is under inflammation the heart will be in danger. You need to take him to a vet and find the cause and treat it.

It is important to add that there are a lot of other respiratory, neurological and gastrointestinal issues that can cause a low heart rate. These are serious and huge problems so your puppy will need help from a vet.

The Final Word 

As you were able to see, the puppy’s heart rate should be around 180 beats per second. If it is higher, you may want to try and find out why and react. If it is low, you will have to take him to a vet as soon as possible. When the heart rate is low, usually it happens due to some more severe problem.