NORMAL VALUES FOR DOG AND CAT HEALTH PARAMETERS

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The normal temperature for a dog or cat is a question often asked of veterinarians.  Normal values for dog and cat temperature, blood tests, urine tests, weights and other physical parameters are displayed below for your information.  Please keep in mind that these normal values for dogs and cats are approximations and surely do not apply to every dog or cat in every situation.  If you have health concerns about your pet, be sure to consult with your local veterinarian for information.

TEMPERATURE
normalvalues1
Dog... 101 to 102.5           Cat... 101 to 102.2
Remember:  Temperatures outside these values do not automatically indicate that a disease or disorder is present.
Learn about HEAT STROKE in pets.


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Gestation Period... Dogs 62 - 63 days.
Gestation Period... Cats 63 - 64 days.
Do you know how to tell the difference between male kittens and female kittens.  You'd be surprised how often mistaken gender occurs!Look at the photos here.


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Blood Tests... Blood Chemistry Values


Normal Values for blood chemistry elements for dogs and cats are displayed in the table below.  Keep in mind that each blood chemistry machine and every veterinary diagnostic lab has their own set of normal values calculated for their particular instrumentation.  The values shown here may be different from normal ranges your veterinarian refers to when making judgments about patients' reported blood chemistry values.


NORMAL RANGES FOR A LABORATORY'S  BLOOD CHEMISTRY VALUES
... for dogs and cats
DOGS
 CATS
GLUCOSE
 67 - 125 mg/dL
 GLUCOSE
 70 -160 mg/dL
ALT
 15 - 84 U/L
ALT
 10 - 80 U/L
TOTAL BILIRUBIN
 0.0 - 0.4 mg/dL
 TOTAL BILIRUBIN
 0.0 - 0.2 mg/dL
TOTAL PROTEIN
 5.2 - 7.8 gm/dL
 TOTAL PROTEIN
5.6 - 7.7gm/dL
UREA NITROGEN
 9 - 27 mg/dL
 UREA NITROGEN
 20 - 30 mg/dL
PHOSPHORUS
 2.6 - 6.8 mg/dL
 PHOSPHORUS
 2.7 - 7.6 mg/dL
SODIUM
 140 - 153 mmol/L
 SODIUM
 145 - 155 mmol/L
CHLORIDE
 106 - 118 mmol/L
 CHLORIDE
 117 - 124 mmol/L
LDH
10 - 273 U/L
 LDH
 79 - 380 U/L
MAGNESIUM
 1.5 - 2.7 mg/dL
 MAGNESIUM
 1.7 - 2.9 mg/dL
LIPASE
 200 - 700U/L
 LIPASE
40 - 200 U/L
T4
 1.0 - 4.7 ug/dL
 T4
 2.0 - 5.5 ug/dL
pH
 7.32 - 7.42
 pH
 7.24 - 7.40
 
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 HEMATOLOGY

Normal ranges for blood cell elements for dogs and cats are displayed in the table below.
NORMAL RANGES FOR A LABORATORY'S  HEMATOLOGY VALUES
... for dogs and cats
DOGS
 CATS
(RBC) Red Blood Cell Count
 5.5 - 8.5 X 100,000/μL
 (RBC) Red Blood Cell Count
 5.5 - 10.0 X 100,000/μL
(WBC)  White Blood Cell Count
 6.0 - 17 x 1000/μL
 (WBC)  White Blood Cell Count
 6.0 - 19 x 1000/μL
(MCH) Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin
 19.5 - 25.5 pg
 (MCH) Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin
 12.5 - 17.5 pg
(RDW)  Red Cell Distribution Width
 14 - 19 percent
 (RDW)  Red Cell Distribution Width
 14 - 31 percent
Hematocrit
 37 - 55 percent
 Hematocrit
30 - 45 percent
HgB (Hemoglobin) g/L
 120-180
 HgB (Hemoglobin) g/L
 80-150
Reticulocytes
 0-1.5%
 Reticulocytes
 0-1%  
Segs x1000/ul
 3.6-11.5
 Segs x1000/ul
 2.5-12.5
Bands  x1000/ul
  0.0-0.3
 Bands  x1000/ul
 0.0-0.3
Lymphocytes  x1000/ul
1.0-4.8
 Lymphocytes  x1000/ul
1.5-7.0
Monocytes  x1000/ul
0.15-1.35
 Monocytes  x1000/ul
 0.0-0.85
Eosinophils  x1000/ul
  0.01-1.25
 Eosinophils  x1000/ul 
 0.0-1.5
Platelets x 100000/ul
 2-9
 Platelets x 100000/ul
 3-7

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NORMAL RANGES FOR HEMOSTATIC VALUES...
for dogs and cats
DOGS
  CATS
Bleeding Time in minutes
 2- 5 minutes
 Bleeding Time in minutes
 2 - 5 minutes
Whole Blood Coag. Time in Glass
 6 - 8 minutes
 Whole Blood Coag. Time in Glass
 8 minutes
Prothrombin Time
 6 - 10 seconds
 Prothrombin Time
 8.6 seconds
Partial thromboplastin time  
 15 - 25 seconds


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NORMAL BODY WEIGHT

How much should your dog weigh?
Veterinary scientists have established that it is much better for a growing pup to be slightly thin rather than slightly or obviously overweight.  That does not mean that a low quality diet should be fed!  High quality, meat-based pet foods that have a meat or poultry listed as the first ingredient are more digestible than grain-based diets and are highly nutritious.  To control a dog or cat's weight keep in mind that exercise and controlled calorie intake are the key factors in keeping pets at an optimum body weight.  The body condition chart below, which is property of Nestle-Purina Company, is a general visual guideline and surely does not apply to all breeds.  For example a Chow Chow or Shar-Pei might not fit the illustrated scheme.  Also, be aware that there are no set standards regarding how much any individual dog or cat "should weight".  For example, in a litter of eight Labrador Retriever puppies there may be a wide variation in mature body sizes, bone structure and optimum body weights.  A normal male might weight  90 pounds at 12 months of age... and another male might weigh 78 pounds.  Two normal females from the same litter might weight 55 pounds and 70 pounds.  So when you ask your veterinarian "How much should my dog or cat weigh", expect an evasive answer because there really is no single answer.  It depends on each individual dog and cat's body composition.

BODY CONDITION CHART
(This chart and images are  presented with permission of and is copyright property of the Nestle-Purina Company) 
1      Emaciated
Ribs, lumbar vertebrae, pelvic bones and all bony prominences evident from a distance. No discernible body fat. Obvious loss of muscle mass.

2      Very Thin
Ribs, lumbar vertebrae, pelvic bones and all bony prominences easily visible. No palpable fat. Minimal loss of muscle mass.  
 normalvalues2
3      Thin
Ribs easily palpitated and may be visible with no palpable fat. Tops of lumbar vertebrae visible. Pelvic bones becoming prominent. Obvious waist and abdominal tuck.

4      Underweight
Ribs easily palpable, with minimal fat covering. Waist easily noted, viewed from above. Abdomen tucked up when viewed from the side.   
 normalvalues3
5      Ideal
Ribs palpable without excess fat covering. Waist observed behind ribs when viewed from above. Abdominal tuck evident.

6      Overweight
Ribs palpable with slight excess fat covering. Waist is discernible viewed from above but is not prominent. Abdominal tuck apparent.   
 normalvalues4
7      Heavy
Ribs palpable with difficulty, heavy fat cover. Noticeable fat deposits over lumbar area and base of tail. Waist absent or barely visible. Abdominal tuck may be absent.

8      Obese
Ribs not palpable under very heavy fat cover, or palpable only with significant pressure. Heavy fat deposits over lumbar area and base of tail. Waist absent. No abdominal tuck. Obvious abdominal distension may be present.  
 normalvalues5
9      Grossly Obese
Massive fat deposits over thorax, spine and base of tail. Waist and abdominal tuck.
normalvalues6
How To Reduce A Dog's Weight
 How To Reduce A Cat's Weight



reprinted with kind permission from T J Dunn, DVM
Director, ThePetCenter.com
http://www.thepetcenter.com
 
 
chloebutton   talabutton
 
The above information is simply informational. It's intent is not to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist you in making a diagnosis of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian for confirmation of any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.