# Veterinary reference ranges: vitals, haematology and biochemistry

> 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.

Source: https://vetmasterji.com/reference-ranges · Last reviewed: 2026-10-01

## 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 | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temperature | 38.7–39.8 | °C |  |
| Heart rate | 70–120 | bpm |  |
| Respiratory rate | 32–58 | /min |  |

*Pig: haematology*

| Parameter | Reference range | Unit | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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

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