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High Blood Pressure in Cats and Dogs
By Dr. Rachel Addleman, DVM, ABVP, CVA
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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