If you own a Cavoodle or another oodle, heart health should be on your radar. While these dogs are loved for their affectionate personalities and teddy bear looks, they are also more prone to developing heart disease as they get older, particularly Mitral Valve Disease (MVD), one of the most common heart conditions seen in small breeds.

One of the simplest ways to keep an eye on your dog’s heart health at home is by monitoring their resting heart rate. It only takes a minute, costs nothing, and could help you notice changes that are worth discussing with your veterinarian.

This topic has become incredibly personal for me.

As someone with a senior Cavoodle, I’ve seen firsthand just how important this simple habit can become.

My own Cavoodle, Neo, was recently diagnosed with a heart murmur and was referred to a veterinary cardiologist. Like many owners, hearing the words “heart disease” was frightening. Thankfully, after an echocardiogram and further testing, we now have a treatment plan in place, and one of the things I’ve learnt is the importance of monitoring his resting heart rate at home.

It’s now part of our daily routine. Not because I’m trying to diagnose anything myself, but because it helps me understand what’s normal for Neo and gives me another way to monitor his heart health between veterinary visits.

If you’ve never heard of resting heart rate before, don’t worry, you’re certainly not alone. That is why I wanted to share more with you, why it matters, and how you can start monitoring your own oodle’s heart health from the comfort of home.

What Is a Dog’s Resting Heart Rate?

A resting heart rate is exactly what it sounds like, how many times your dog’s heart beats in one minute while they are completely relaxed or sleeping.

This is different from checking their pulse after a walk, zoomies, or playtime. Those activities naturally increase the heart rate and don’t provide an accurate picture of heart health. Your dog’s resting heart rate reflects how hard their heart is working when the body is at rest.

For dogs with heart disease, changes in resting heart rate can sometimes be one of the earliest signs that something is changing.

Why Is Resting Heart Rate Important?

Your dog’s heart is responsible for pumping oxygen-rich blood around their body.

When the heart begins to struggle, it often has to work harder to do the same job. One way this can show up is through an increase in resting heart rate.

Monitoring your Cavoodle’s resting heart rate won’t diagnose heart disease, but it can provide useful information for both you and your veterinarian.

Think of it like taking your own blood pressure or monitoring your weight. One reading doesn’t tell the whole story, but trends over time can reveal important changes.

What Is a Normal Resting Heart Rate for Dogs?

A healthy resting heart rate generally falls between:

• Small dogs: 80–120 beats per minute
• Medium dogs: 70–110 beats per minute
• Large dogs: 60–100 beats per minute

Because Cavoodles are a small breed, many will naturally sit somewhere between 80 and 120 beats per minute while sleeping. This can vary depending on breed mix and size.

What’s even more important than comparing your dog to a chart is knowing your dog’s normal baseline.

For example:

• Dog A normally sleeps at 82 bpm.
• Dog B normally sleeps at 105 bpm.

Both are perfectly normal. However, if Dog A suddenly begins consistently resting at 105 bpm, that’s a significant change worth discussing with your veterinarian.

Why Are Cavoodles More Prone to Heart Disease?

One of the reasons every Cavoodle owner should become familiar with resting heart rate is because Cavoodles are predisposed to developing Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) as they age.

Mitral Valve Disease is the most common acquired heart disease in small breed dogs.

It occurs when one of the heart valves gradually becomes thicker and doesn’t close properly. Over time, blood leaks backwards through the valve, forcing the heart to work harder.

The condition develops slowly, often over many years, and many dogs appear completely healthy during the early stages. Unfortunately, because the disease progresses gradually, owners may not notice subtle changes until it has become more advanced.

Signs of Heart Disease in Oodles

Heart disease doesn’t always announce itself dramatically.

Early signs may include:

• Reduced stamina on walks
• Sleeping more than usual
• Faster breathing while asleep
• Increased resting heart rate
• Coughing, particularly overnight
• Becoming tired more quickly
• Less interest in exercise
• Mild weight loss
• Increased panting without obvious reason

Many of these symptoms can also be associated with ageing, which is why regular veterinary check-ups are so important for senior Cavoodles.

How to Measure Your Cavoodle’s Resting Heart Rate

The best time to measure your dog’s resting heart rate is when they are in a deep sleep.

Here’s how:

1. Wait until your Cavoodle is completely asleep.
2. Place your hand gently on the left side of their chest, just behind the front leg.
3. Count the beats for 30 seconds.
4. Multiply that number by two to calculate beats per minute.

Alternatively, you can count for a full minute.

Try to measure it around the same time of day and under similar conditions each time.

Many owners record the number in their phone or keep a simple notebook so they can identify any trends over time.

Should You Check It Every Day?

For healthy young dogs, checking occasionally is perfectly adequate.

For senior Cavoodles, especially those over eight years old, many veterinary cardiologists recommend monitoring resting heart rate regularly—particularly if your dog has already been diagnosed with a heart murmur or early heart disease.

Daily or several times a week can help establish a reliable baseline.

Remember, consistency matters more than frequency.

Can You Lower Your Dog’s Resting Heart Rate?

A healthy resting heart rate isn’t something you try to lower.

Instead, the goal is maintaining good overall cardiovascular health through:

• Regular veterinary health checks
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Daily appropriate exercise
• Feeding a balanced diet
• Dental care (poor dental health has been linked with heart disease)
• Following your veterinarian’s treatment plan if heart disease is diagnosed

Never adjust or stop heart medications based solely on resting heart rate readings.

When Should You Contact Your Vet?

A single slightly higher reading isn’t usually cause for panic.

However, it’s worth contacting your veterinarian if you notice:

• Your dog’s resting heart rate is consistently increasing over several days.
• It is significantly higher than your dog’s normal baseline.
• Your dog also develops coughing, lethargy, exercise intolerance or rapid breathing.
• They have an existing heart murmur or diagnosed heart disease and their readings suddenly change.

The earlier heart disease is detected, the more treatment options may be available to help slow its progression and maintain your dog’s quality of life.

The Bottom Line

Monitoring your oodle’s resting heart rate is one of the easiest health habits you can adopt. It costs nothing, takes less than two minutes, and helps you become more familiar with what’s normal for your dog.

Because oodles are predisposed to Mitral Valve Disease as they age, keeping track of their resting heart rate, alongside regular veterinary check-ups, can become an important part of caring for their long-term heart health.

The goal isn’t to diagnose disease yourself. It’s simply to notice changes early so your veterinarian has the information they need to provide the best possible care.

Your oodle’s heart works tirelessly every single day. Spending a minute listening to it could make all the difference.