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 My
father and his cat Snoop are on the same medication for high blood
pressure. High stress can be a risk factor for high blood pressure in
people, as is smoking and drinking. My father definitely has more stress
than the cat does, but neither smoke or drink! So, what causes high blood
pressure in dogs and cats?
In dogs and cats, high
blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is almost always recognized as
a complication of other diseases. In humans, hypertension is often
diagnosed as a primary problem – meaning, no underlying disease is found.
A common cause of high
blood pressure in animals is kidney disease. The complication of
hypertension develops in over half of cats with kidney disease and in most
dogs with kidney disease. As many cats develop kidney disease as they
age, monitoring for high blood pressure is important.
A diet lower in protein is
recommended for animals with kidney disease. A lower protein diet has
been shown to slow the progression of kidney disease. Diets made for
kidney disease are often lower in salt, but salt restriction is
controversial as it does not appear to help control high blood pressure in
animals.
Snoop and my father could
stand to lose a pound or two. Neither is obese. But in any case, in
dogs and cats there is no direct connection of obesity to high blood
pressure. Obesity can however lead to diabetes. Diabetes is a risk
factor for high blood pressure in both people and dogs. Diabetes itself
is not a risk factor for high blood pressure in cats.
Other diseases that lead
to high blood pressure include Cushing’s disease in dogs, and in cats an
elevated thyroid level, or hyperthyroidism. Low thyroid level in dogs,
known as hypothyroidism, does not cause hypertension.
High blood pressure can
cause sudden blindness, nose bleeds, or blood clots that could lodge
anywhere, including the brain. High blood pressure may cause changes in
personality. In cats, an increase in meowing, especially at night, may be
a sign of high blood pressure. People with hypertension sometimes
complain of early morning headaches, but this is a difficult symptom to
diagnose in an animal!
A blood pressure
measurement is taken similarly to a human, by placing an inflatable cuff
on the leg or the tail. I like to allow an animal to relax and calm down
before blood pressure is taken. I always consider how stressed an animal
is when interpreting a blood pressure measurement.
Your pet should have an
examination by your veterinarian every year because early disease
detection can increase the length and quality of life. A blood test and
urine test are recommended at least yearly by age 7 in dogs and by age 10
in cats. High blood pressure is almost always a complication of another
disease, so your veterinarian may wait to recommend a blood pressure
measurement until your pet is diagnosed with an illness. In patients
with a high risk, a blood pressure measurement should be taken routinely.
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