Raising Awareness of Hypertension in Pets

Does your pet have
High Blood Pressure? 

 
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Hypertension in Pets - The Silent Killer

Did you know your pet can have High Blood Pressure? Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a silent killer among humans and our furry friends. It often goes unnoticed in cats and dogs until far too late. When blood pressure gets too high, tiny arteries in the body can begin to leak or burst, causing damage to the surrounding tissue. [1] The longer it goes undiagnosed and untreated, the more damage can be done, which means that it is crucial to catch hypertension early on.

YouR BP is checked every time you see the doctor – Why not your pet?

Screening for BP should begin in dogs and cats as young as 2 years of age in order to establish a baseline and to catch hypertension early. [2]  Unfortunately, 50% of pet owners don't see the Vet until their pet is already sick.

 

 
 

What are the symptoms of Hypertension?

All pet owners should know the signs of hypertension and should stay alert to any unusual changes in behavior. Although hypertension is the "silent killer", there are a few key symptoms to look out for in your cat or dog:

  • Loss of vision
  • Nose Bleeds
  • Weight loss
  • Fainting
It's not always obvious when your pet is sick. Cats instinctively hide their sicknesses from their owners, making it difficult to recognize odd behavior. Taking your pet in for a wellness check can potentially save you thousands of dollars while keeping your pet happier and healthier for longer.

 
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ORGANS aFFECTED BY HYPERTENSION

 
 
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Brain

Some of the most important organs of the body can be affected by hypertension, including the brain. High blood pressure can lead to edema and lesions in the brain. Neurologic symptoms have been reported in as many as 46% of hypertensive cats. [1] Hypertensive encephalopathy, or brain damage caused by high blood pressure, is a primary cause of otherwise unexplained death in hypertensive cats.

 

 
 
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Kidney

Kidney health is very closely tied to blood pressure. The kidneys are responsible for regulating blood pressure, as well as blood sugar, pH levels, and water composition in the blood. [5] Chronic kidney disease is the most common cause of hypertension in dogs and cats. 60 to 90% of dogs and cats with CKD also experience high BP. [3,6] Even when not caused by CKD, hypertension can damage the kidneys and decrease their ability to function normally.

 
 
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Eyes

Abnormalities in vision are the most common clinical findings that accompany hypertension in animals. [3] Continued high blood pressure can lead to retinal detachment, which can cause blindness. Some signs that high blood pressure may be affecting your pet’s eyes are bleeding inside the eyeball, dilated pupils, retinal detachment, abnormal eye movements, and changes in behavior. [4] Studies have found lesions in the eye in almost all cats with hypertension. [1] There are not many effective treatments for retinal damage once it has occurred. The best way to avoid this eye damage in hypertensive pets is to treat the hypertension as early as possible.

 

 

 
 

How can you help your pet avoid hypertension?

 

Since so many of the symptoms of hypertension can be hidden for years, it is very important to regularly bring your cat or dog to the vet for a blood pressure screening. This will allow the veterinarian to catch hypertension in its early stages. With treatment, many of the side effects and organ damage of hypertension can be completely avoided.

What can you do?

  • Regular hypertension screening allows veterinarians to diagnose hypertension before it is too late.

  • Early action can reverse the effects of high blood pressure and allow your pet to live a longer, healthier life.

Don't wait until your pet is sick

Waiting until symptoms appear mean that you may face big veterinarian bills. The typical cost of a blood pressure measurement is $50 or less. However, when hypertension is left untreated it can cause major organ damage that will lead to large hospital costs. Preventative care is less expensive than unexpected emergency treatments.

  • The median annual costs of canine hypertension is $1,700 in the United States [7]

  • A preventative BP screening costs a fraction of the cost of a lifetime of hypertension treatment and takes just minutes at a clinic.

 
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Want to find out more about identifying Hypertension in pets? Let us know!