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Veterinary reference ranges: vitals, haematology and biochemistry

Q: What is the normal temperature of a dog?

37.9–39.9 °C in a healthy adult dog at rest. Use your laboratory’s own reference interval where it gives one.

Q: What is the normal temperature of a cat?

38.1–39.2 °C in a healthy adult cat at rest. Use your laboratory’s own reference interval where it gives one.

Q: What is a normal heart rate for a dog?

70–120 bpm in a healthy adult dog at rest (puppies/toy breeds up to 180). Use your laboratory’s own reference interval where it gives one.

Q: What is the normal temperature of a cow?

38–39.3 °C in a healthy adult cattle at rest. Use your laboratory’s own reference interval where it gives one.

Q: What is the normal respiratory rate of a cow?

26–50 /min in a healthy adult cattle at rest. Use your laboratory’s own reference interval where it gives one.

Q: What is a normal PCV in dogs?

37–55 % in a healthy adult dog at rest. Use your laboratory’s own reference interval where it gives one.

Normal adult resting values for dogs, cats, cattle, goats, horses, sheep and pigs. A healthy adult dog, for example, has a temperature of 37.9–39.9 °C, a heart rate of 70–120 bpm and a respiratory rate of 18–34 breaths per minute. Laboratory-specific reference intervals always take precedence over these general ranges.

Dog reference ranges

Dog: vital signs
Parameter	Reference range	Unit	Note
Temperature	37.9–39.9	°C
Heart rate	70–120	bpm	Puppies/toy breeds up to 180
Respiratory rate	18–34	/min
CRT	0–2	s

Dog: haematology
Parameter	Reference range	Unit
PCV	37–55	%
Hemoglobin	12–18	g/dL
RBC	5.5–8.5	×10⁶/µL
TLC (WBC)	6–17	×10³/µL
Neutrophils	3–11.5	×10³/µL
Lymphocytes	1–4.8	×10³/µL
Platelets	200–500	×10³/µL

Dog: serum biochemistry
Parameter	Reference range	Unit	Note
BUN	7–27	mg/dL
Creatinine	0.5–1.5	mg/dL
ALT	10–100	U/L
AST	15–66	U/L
ALP	20–156	U/L	Higher in growing pups / steroid therapy
Total protein	5.4–7.5	g/dL
Albumin	2.5–3.7	g/dL
Glucose	70–120	mg/dL
Calcium	8.9–11.4	mg/dL
Phosphorus	2.5–6.2	mg/dL
Total bilirubin	0.1–0.5	mg/dL

Cat reference ranges

Cat: vital signs
Parameter	Reference range	Unit
Temperature	38.1–39.2	°C
Heart rate	140–220	bpm
Respiratory rate	20–40	/min
CRT	0–2	s

Cat: haematology
Parameter	Reference range	Unit
PCV	30–45	%
Hemoglobin	8–15	g/dL
RBC	5–10	×10⁶/µL
TLC (WBC)	5.5–19.5	×10³/µL
Neutrophils	2.5–12.5	×10³/µL
Lymphocytes	1.5–7	×10³/µL
Platelets	300–800	×10³/µL

Cat: serum biochemistry
Parameter	Reference range	Unit	Note
BUN	16–36	mg/dL
Creatinine	0.8–2.4	mg/dL
ALT	12–130	U/L
AST	0–48	U/L
ALP	14–111	U/L	Any rise is significant in cats
Total protein	6–7.9	g/dL
Albumin	2.1–3.3	g/dL
Glucose	74–159	mg/dL	Stress hyperglycemia common
Calcium	7.8–11.3	mg/dL
Phosphorus	3.1–7.5	mg/dL
Total bilirubin	0–0.9	mg/dL

Cattle reference ranges

Cattle: vital signs
Parameter	Reference range	Unit
Temperature	38–39.3	°C
Heart rate	48–84	bpm
Respiratory rate	26–50	/min
Rumen motility	2–4	/2 min

Cattle: haematology
Parameter	Reference range	Unit	Note
PCV	24–46	%
Hemoglobin	8–15	g/dL
RBC	5–10	×10⁶/µL
TLC (WBC)	4–12	×10³/µL
Neutrophils	0.6–4	×10³/µL
Lymphocytes	2.5–7.5	×10³/µL	Lymphocyte-dominant in ruminants
Platelets	100–800	×10³/µL

Cattle: serum biochemistry
Parameter	Reference range	Unit	Note
BUN	6–27	mg/dL
Creatinine	1–2	mg/dL
AST	78–132	U/L
GGT	6–17	U/L
Total protein	6.7–7.5	g/dL
Albumin	3–3.6	g/dL
Glucose	45–75	mg/dL
Calcium	8.4–11	mg/dL	<7.5 in fresh cows → milk fever risk
Phosphorus	5.6–6.5	mg/dL
Magnesium	1.8–2.3	mg/dL	<1.5 → grass tetany risk

Goat reference ranges

Goat: vital signs
Parameter	Reference range	Unit
Temperature	38.5–40	°C
Heart rate	70–110	bpm
Respiratory rate	15–40	/min
Rumen motility	2–4	/2 min

Goat: haematology
Parameter	Reference range	Unit
PCV	22–38	%
Hemoglobin	8–12	g/dL
RBC	8–18	×10⁶/µL
TLC (WBC)	4–13	×10³/µL
Platelets	300–600	×10³/µL

Goat: serum biochemistry
Parameter	Reference range	Unit
BUN	10–20	mg/dL
Creatinine	1–1.8	mg/dL
AST	66–230	U/L
GGT	20–56	U/L
Total protein	6.4–7	g/dL
Albumin	2.7–3.9	g/dL
Glucose	50–75	mg/dL
Calcium	8.9–11.7	mg/dL

Horse reference ranges

Horse: vital signs
Parameter	Reference range	Unit
Temperature	37.2–38.3	°C
Heart rate	28–44	bpm
Respiratory rate	8–16	/min
CRT	0–2	s

Horse: haematology
Parameter	Reference range	Unit
PCV	32–53	%
Hemoglobin	11–19	g/dL
RBC	6.8–12.9	×10⁶/µL
TLC (WBC)	5.4–14.3	×10³/µL
Platelets	100–350	×10³/µL

Horse: serum biochemistry
Parameter	Reference range	Unit
BUN	10–24	mg/dL
Creatinine	1.2–1.9	mg/dL
AST	226–366	U/L
GGT	12–45	U/L
Total protein	5.2–7.9	g/dL
Albumin	2.6–3.7	g/dL
Glucose	75–115	mg/dL
Calcium	11.2–13.6	mg/dL

Sheep reference ranges

Sheep: vital signs
Parameter	Reference range	Unit
Temperature	38.5–39.9	°C
Heart rate	70–80	bpm
Respiratory rate	16–34	/min
Rumen motility	2–4	/2 min

Sheep: haematology
Parameter	Reference range	Unit
PCV	27–45	%
Hemoglobin	9–15	g/dL
RBC	9–15	×10⁶/µL
TLC (WBC)	4–12	×10³/µL
Platelets	250–750	×10³/µL

Sheep: serum biochemistry
Parameter	Reference range	Unit	Note
BUN	8–20	mg/dL
Creatinine	1.2–1.9	mg/dL
AST	60–280	U/L
GGT	20–52	U/L
Total protein	6–7.9	g/dL
Albumin	2.4–3	g/dL
Glucose	50–80	mg/dL
Calcium	11.5–12.8	mg/dL	Hypocalcemia in late gestation ewes

Pig reference ranges

Pig: vital signs
Parameter	Reference range	Unit
Temperature	38.7–39.8	°C
Heart rate	70–120	bpm
Respiratory rate	32–58	/min

Pig: haematology
Parameter	Reference range	Unit
PCV	32–50	%
Hemoglobin	10–16	g/dL
RBC	5–8	×10⁶/µL
TLC (WBC)	11–22	×10³/µL
Platelets	220–620	×10³/µL

Pig: serum biochemistry
Parameter	Reference range	Unit
BUN	10–30	mg/dL
Creatinine	1–2.7	mg/dL
AST	32–84	U/L
Total protein	7–8.9	g/dL
Albumin	1.9–3.3	g/dL
Glucose	85–150	mg/dL

Frequently asked questions

What is the normal temperature of a dog?

37.9–39.9 °C in a healthy adult dog at rest. Use your laboratory’s own reference interval where it gives one.

What is the normal temperature of a cat?

38.1–39.2 °C in a healthy adult cat at rest. Use your laboratory’s own reference interval where it gives one.

What is a normal heart rate for a dog?

70–120 bpm in a healthy adult dog at rest (puppies/toy breeds up to 180). Use your laboratory’s own reference interval where it gives one.

What is the normal temperature of a cow?

38–39.3 °C in a healthy adult cattle at rest. Use your laboratory’s own reference interval where it gives one.

What is the normal respiratory rate of a cow?

26–50 /min in a healthy adult cattle at rest. Use your laboratory’s own reference interval where it gives one.

What is a normal PCV in dogs?

37–55 % in a healthy adult dog at rest. Use your laboratory’s own reference interval where it gives one.

Sources

Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th edition — reference guides
Standard veterinary clinical pathology references

Last reviewed 1 October 2026 · VetMasterJi