What vital signs are commonly assessed during a canine physical exam?

The assessment of vital signs in a canine physical exam is crucial for determining a dog's health status. The commonly evaluated vital signs include heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, and pulse.

Heart rate is essential for monitoring the cardiovascular system's function, as it helps indicate the dog's overall health and can reveal conditions such as stress or illness. Respiratory rate is equally important as it assesses the respiratory system's efficiency and can indicate issues like respiratory distress or infection. Temperature provides a baseline to detect fever or hypothermia, which are significant concerns when evaluating a dog's health. Finally, pulse gives valuable information about the circulatory system and can help in assessing the perfusion status of the dog.

Weight is an important measure but is not classified as a vital sign in the same context as heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, and pulse, which are specifically indicators of immediate physiological status. Therefore, the correct answer focuses on those four specific vital signs which are integral to a comprehensive physical examination of a canine.