| High Blood Pressure (hypertension) is very common in | | | | something untoward has happened to your pet |
| our pets, but often goes undiagnosed until it leads to | | | | physically (i.e. some degree of blindness or some |
| life threatening emergencies. Problems from high | | | | other eye problem.) The retina of a hypertensive pet |
| blood pressure arise when a blood vessel gets too | | | | develops tortuous-looking retinal blood vessels; some |
| small for the high pressure flow going through it. | | | | vessels may even have broken, showing smudges of |
| Since the affected vessels are small, the bleeding | | | | blood on the retinal surface. Some areas of the retina |
| may not be noticeable but a lot of little bleeds and a | | | | detach, or the entire retina detaches. With early |
| lot of blood vessel destruction can create big | | | | identification, some vision may be restored, so do not |
| problems over time. | | | | let minor vision changes go unreported; tell your |
| Your pet's retina is especially at risk, with either | | | | veterinarian know if you think your pet's vision is |
| sudden or gradual blindness often being the first sign | | | | abnormal. |
| of latent high blood pressure. The kidneys are also | | | | Retinal changes can be complicated to interpret. Be |
| targets since they rely upon tiny vessels to filter | | | | prepared if your veterinarian refers you to a |
| toxins from the bloodstream. High blood pressure also | | | | veterinary ophthalmologist. (Be sure to consult your |
| increases the risk of embolism: tiny blood clots that | | | | veterinary insurance provider, as many cover |
| form when blood flow is abnormal. These clots can | | | | specialist visits such as this.) |
| lodge throughout your pet's body - including the brain. | | | | Blood pressure measurement is performed with an |
| But our pets do not have the same "external | | | | inflatable cuff fitted snuggly around your pet's foot |
| pressures" that can often trigger hypertension in their | | | | or foreleg; sometimes, the base of their tail can be |
| pet parents, so what causes this condition in our | | | | used. The cuff is inflated to prevent blood flow |
| pets? There are numerous diseases in pets that are | | | | through the superficial artery. With pets, an ultrasonic |
| associated with high blood pressure, including:o | | | | probe must be taped or held over the artery, and |
| Chronic renal (kidney) failure - in one study, 93% of | | | | the sound of the systolic pressure is converted into |
| dogs with chronic renal failure and 61% of cats with | | | | an audible signal. In pets, this measurement should |
| chronic renal failure also had systemic hypertension;o | | | | not exceed 160; a reading of 180 is considered by |
| Hyperthyroidism - in one study, 87% of cats with | | | | the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine |
| untreated hyperthyroidism had systemic hypertension | | | | to indicate high risk for organ damage. |
| (hyperthyroidism is a feline disease only!);o Glomerular | | | | There are various treatment options for |
| disease - disease of the kidney filtration system in | | | | hypertension. When ocular disease is present, special |
| which protein is lost in urine. It is important to screen | | | | eye drops may be required, depending upon how |
| pets with high blood pressure for urinary protein as | | | | much the eye is bleeding and whether or not return |
| control of protein loss is important to survival time;o | | | | of vision is likely; (a veterinary ophthalmologist is |
| Cushing's disease (an adrenal cortisone excess) ;o | | | | especially helpful in this scenario.) When hypertension |
| Diabetes mellitus (inability to properly reduce blood | | | | is identified, a search for the underlying cause is |
| sugar) ;o Acromegaly (growth hormone excess);o | | | | indicated. It may be that controlling the underlying |
| Polycythemia (an excess in red blood cells) ;o | | | | disease totally reverses the hypertension (particularly |
| Pheochromocytoma (an adrenaline secreting tumor of | | | | true for hyperthyroid cats). |
| the adrenal gland) | | | | Beyond these methods, as with people, blood |
| High blood pressure can be identified by screening at | | | | pressure lowering medication is prescribed. This |
| your veterinarian's office. If your pet has one of the | | | | typically involves some type of pill that dilates |
| above-mentioned conditions, their blood pressure is | | | | peripheral blood vessels, making them larger to |
| generally checked. Older pets should have their blood | | | | accommodate the high pressure blood flow going |
| pressure checked whenever they have a physical | | | | through them. Dietary restrictions may also be |
| examination, particularly if they are over the age of | | | | recommended by your veterinarian. Hypertensive |
| 9. | | | | patients should be rechecked every 2-4 months to |
| Sadly, high blood pressure is discovered only after | | | | keep their blood pressure in a healthy range. |