Live reference

Normal values quick reference

Fast dog and cat reference ranges for common vitals, systolic blood pressure, and basic chemistry checkpoints. Built for rapid bedside or study lookup, not diagnosis or treatment logic. Reference ranges only. Clinical context matters, and lab-specific ranges should be used when available.

Quick use

How to use this reference well

This page is built for rapid checking. Use it to orient yourself quickly, then return to the patient, the chart, and the lab-specific context.

Use it early: glance at the relevant species table when a value needs a fast baseline check.
Use it carefully: stress, sampling method, handling, and analyzer differences can all shift what looks normal.
Use it with clinical continuity: move from this reference into the related live calculators when the next step is arithmetic rather than lookup.

Study support

Mini example and prompt

Keep the support layer short: enough to help students use the reference well without slowing down clinicians who only need a quick check.

Mini example

A cat in the treatment area has a potassium of 3.8 mEq/L and a lactate under 2.5 mmol/L.

Use this page to quickly check that both numbers sit near common feline reference ranges, then return to trend interpretation and the rest of the case data.

Try this prompt

Before opening another calculator, ask yourself: am I looking for a quick baseline check, or do I now need dose, fluid, or correction arithmetic?

Dog

Dog quick reference

Vitals
Parameter	Reference range
Heart rate	70-120 bpm
Respiratory rate	18-34 breaths/min
Temperature	101.0-102.5 °F (38.3-39.2 °C)

Blood pressure
Parameter	Reference range
Systolic	90-140 mm Hg

Basic lab values
Parameter	Reference range
PCV / hematocrit	35-57 %
Total protein	5.4-7.5 g/dL
Glucose	76-119 mg/dL
BUN	8-28 mg/dL
Creatinine	0.5-1.7 mg/dL
Sodium	142-152 mEq/L
Potassium	3.9-5.1 mEq/L
Lactate	< 2.5 mmol/L
Calcium	9.2-11.6 mg/dL

Cat

Cat quick reference

Vitals
Parameter	Reference range
Heart rate	140-220 bpm
Respiratory rate	16-40 breaths/min
Temperature	100.5-102.5 °F (38.1-39.2 °C)

Blood pressure
Parameter	Reference range
Systolic	100-160 mm Hg

Basic lab values
Parameter	Reference range
PCV / hematocrit	30-45 %
Total protein	6.0-7.9 g/dL
Glucose	60-120 mg/dL
BUN	19-34 mg/dL
Creatinine	0.9-2.2 mg/dL
Sodium	146-156 mEq/L
Potassium	3.7-6.1 mEq/L
Lactate	< 2.5 mmol/L
Calcium	8.8-11.6 mg/dL

Notes

Use with context

Reference ranges only. Clinical context still matters.
Use lab-specific reference intervals when available.
Blood pressure and respiratory rate can shift with stress, handling, and technique.

Basis

Basis and limits

Reference basis: dog and cat quick-reference intervals drawn from commonly cited veterinary physiology and clinical pathology sources.
What this page does: offers a fast baseline lookup for common parameters frequently checked during initial assessment or study review.
Update discipline: reviewed against standard references. Always verify against your lab's instrument-specific intervals when available.
What still needs checking: lab-specific intervals, measurement technique, patient context, and current protocols before acting on any value.

Last reviewed: May 2026

Sources: Merck Veterinary Manual; IDEXX Reference Laboratories

Normal values quick reference

How to use this reference well

Mini example and prompt

Mini example

Try this prompt

Dog quick reference

Cat quick reference

Use with context

Basis and limits

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