How is the measurement of heart rate described?

The measurement of heart rate is described as pulse. The pulse is the tactile boundary of the heartbeats that can be felt in various parts of the body, typically at points where an artery is close to the skin, such as the wrist or neck. The pulse directly correlates with the heart rate, which refers to how many times the heart beats per minute. Monitoring the pulse allows practitioners to not only assess the heart rate but also evaluate the rhythm and strength of the heartbeat, providing insight into an animal’s cardiovascular health.

While respiration, temperature, and blood pressure are all vital signs that contribute to an animal's overall health assessment, they measure different physiological parameters. Respiration refers to the breathing rate, temperature measures the body heat, and blood pressure assesses the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels. Therefore, the direct connection between pulse and heart rate makes "pulse" the correct description for measuring heart rate.