Canine and feline hypertension
Charlotte Pace
Thursday, March 2, 2023
Systemic hypertension is a common finding in small animal practice. It has been classified into three groups: situational (or white-coat hypertension), primary or idiopathic, or secondary to another disease process. Secondary hypertension is the most common form, and chronic kidney disease the disease most reported to be associated with it. It is diagnosed using reliable and repeatable blood pressure measurements, and by excluding other causes. Treatment will vary depending on the underlying cause. Recent guidelines have suggested measuring blood pressure in dogs and cats at a senior life stage and performing a fundic examination in all animals with blood pressure more than 160 mmHg. Client education and regular screening are ways that veterinary nurses can help identify blood pressure changes and assess efficacy of antihypertensive medication.
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