Hypertension in Pets

Did you know that 1 in 6 cats over the age of seven, and 10% of all healthy dogs suffer from high blood pressure? Similar to people, there is a myriad of medical conditions that can predispose dogs and cats to have high blood pressure (hypertension).

Such conditions include chronic kidney disease, metabolic diseases such as diabetes, as well as heart disease. It is important to diagnose and treat hypertension and any underlying disease early, as prolonged high blood pressure can result in (further) damage to the brain, heart, kidneys, and eyes.

Tia is a 10-year-old Papillon that came to Cottonwood a few months ago for her annual exam and was diagnosed with early-stage kidney disease. Luckily, we discovered Tia’s hypertension before any long-lasting effects were incurred. We are happy to report that with the appropriate medical treatment, Tia’s hypertension is currently well controlled and she is living a happy life.