What is Capillary Refill Time (CRT)?

• A. The time it takes blood to return to the gum area of an MWD after applying pressure with your finger.
• B. The time it takes for the dog to respond to a cue.
• C. The hydration status measured by skin elasticity.
• D. The time since the last meal.

Answer: (A)

Capillary Refill Time is a quick check of peripheral blood flow. You press on a mucous membrane area, typically the gums, until the tissue blanches, then release and watch how fast the normal pink color returns. In a healthy MWD, color should come back in about 1 to 2 seconds. A slower return indicates reduced perfusion, which can point to dehydration, blood loss, shock, or cardiovascular issues. Temperature, recent activity, and lighting can affect the reading, so CRT is used as part of a broader assessment of the dog’s circulatory status. The other options describe different things—response to a cue is a behavioral test, skin elasticity tests hydration differently, and time since the last meal has no direct link to blood flow.