Systemic hypertension (high blood pressure) is coming to the forefront of veterinary medicine. In people, most cases of hypertension are primary – so far in pets, most cases seem to be secondary to other health problems, but that may change as we get more information.

Measuring blood pressure has not been a routine part of your pet’s annual exam. This is partly due to the difficulty of measuring blood pressures. Newer technologies are making this a possibility however. Smaller, specialized Dopplers and mini cuffs can be used on dog and cat legs or even on tails.

There is a great deal of variation among pets as to normal values for blood pressure. Certainly the stress and excitement of being at the veterinary hospital is a factor. Normals are generally considered to be about 140/83 in dogs and 120/82 in cats. Already variations have been noted however, with some sighthounds such as Scottish Deerhounds having normal systolic pressure as high as 200 mmHG. The giant breeds tend to have lower pressure readings.

Due to the excitement or “white coat factor” of fear and stress from being at the veterinarian’s, most veterinarians do multiple readings on a pet over a short period of time before definitively diagnosing hypertension. As is sometimes seen in people, older or overweight pets tend to have higher readings.

A careful ocular (eye) exam is very important if hypertension is suspected. Many times the first clinical sign pets show is acute blindness. The ocular changes leading to blindness can be detected earlier and hopefully with treatment some vision retained, but not always. Since our dogs and cats tend to have secondary hypertension it is also extremely important to check out the entire pet and do laboratory studies such as complete blood panels and a urinalysis. If the actual cause of the hypertension is treated, for example with renal (kidney) failure) or hyperthyroidism, then the blood pressure will often return to normal. Renal disease in particular is often closely associated with hypertension, sometimes leaving open the question as to which came first.

Treating hypertension again involves looking at the “whole pet”. Sodium restriction can help but does not seem as valuable in treatment for animals as it is in people. Diuretics to reduce blood volume are perhaps the most effective medication. Weight loss and exercise can help.

Angiotension converting enzyme inhibitors are a class of medications that has been shown to be very successful in treating hypertension, especially in dogs. Enalapril maleate is the best known of these. Amlodipine is a beta blocker which shows some success in cats with hypertension.

Blood pressure evaluations and treatments will definitely become more standard in the future and hopefully contribute to longer, healthier lives for our beloved companions.

Resource:

Veterinary Medicine, Vol 96, #2, Feb. 2001.

About The Author

Deb Eldredge DVM
Dr Eldredge graduated from Cornell in 1980 and was the first recipient of the Gentle Doctor Award – voted on by the clinical faculty for the best patient care. She has been in practice since then, including 2 years at the Humane Society of Huron Valley in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She has mostly been in small animal practice & does treat exotics. She is also very involved in dog sports. Dr Eldredge currently shares her life with 6 horses, 16 sheep, 3 pygmy goats, 26 ducks, 4 cats, 1 guinea pig, 1 house bunny, 5 dogs ( 2 Belgian Tervurens, 1 Kuvasz & 2 Pembroke Welsh Corgis) as well as 3 primates – Her husband, her son & her daughter!

source: animalhelp.com