In cats, hypertension refers to high blood pressure that penetrates all areas of the body. A cat’s heart puts pressure on the artery walls and pumps blood across the body when it contracts. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) is the name assigned to this test. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is the pressure on the arterial walls as the heart rests and fills with blood. Thus, the amount of pressure on the arterial walls is determined by blood pressure. Often, pet owners in Eaton Rapids face this health issue in cats. If you believe your cat is suffering from this health issue, contact a veterinarian in Eaton Rapids.
Diagnosing and treating feline hypertension
Just like with humans, a cat’s blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury, or mmHg, which is the systolic number to that of the diastolic number. The usual blood pressure for humans is 120/80 mmHg.
The bottom figure, or diastolic blood pressure, is less precise and is thought to be a less significant component of hypertension in cats. Therefore, a higher systolic blood pressure, or top number, is usually used to diagnose hypertension in cats.
When the SBP is more than 160 mm Hg or more than 150 mm Hg, and there is apparent evidence of organ damage from hypertension, a diagnosis of feline hypertension is usually confirmed.
Symptoms of Hypertension in Felines
Regular blood pressure checks may be the only way to detect early indicators of high blood pressure in cats, which can often be invisible to pet parents. Unfortunately, cats will not show obvious symptoms until severe organ damage occurs if they are not regularly evaluated for elevated blood pressure or common conditions that cause high blood pressure. Cats with hypertension suffer damage to their heart, kidneys, neurological system, eyes, and brain.
Most of the time, a pet parent will seek veterinarian care after noticing a problem with their cat’s eyes. Among the symptoms are:
- Dilated, fixed pupils
- Blood in the eye’s globe or transparent chamber
- Smashing into things
- Sudden blindness
Retinal detachment can often be the cause of blindness and pupil dilatation. In cats, eyesight loss can be irreversible unless hypertension is treated quickly and aggressively.
Symptoms of brain injury from feline hypertension include:
- Abnormal conduct
- Disorientation
- Depression
- Seizures
Hypertension can worsen kidney injury symptoms, which include:
- Reduced appetite
- Vomiting
- Decreased weight
- Inactive
- Higher water intake
- Regular urination
Hypertension-related heart disease signs include:
- Abnormal cardiac sounds or murmurs detected during a veterinarian checkup
- Less likely: Short, rapid breathing, paralysis, or unexpected death from congestive heart failure
Causes for Cats’ High Blood Pressure
Cats’ elevated blood pressure is caused by or related to an underlying illness in 80% of situations. We refer to this as secondary hypertension. The two primary underlying conditions are as follows:
- As many as 74% of cats with hypertension have chronic kidney disease (CKD), the most common condition linked to hypertension in cats.
- Cats with hypertension also often develop hyperthyroidism, an illness brought on by a thyroid gland tumor that is usually benign.
Pheochromocytoma, diabetes mellitus, hyperaldosteronism, and hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s illness) are uncommon conditions linked to an increased risk of feline hypertension. The majority of these illnesses appear in elderly and senior cats. Cats who take certain drugs, such as steroids and phenylpropanolamine, may also develop hypertension.
Idiopathic hypertension, in which there is no recognized underlying cause, affects about 20% of cats. Before test issues can be identified, some of these cats are probably in the earliest stages of chronic renal disease.
How do Vets diagnose them?
Veterinary teams can monitor cats’ blood pressure in a way similar to that of humans. A cuff is inflated and wrapped around your cat’s tail, back leg, or front leg. The veterinarian will take the readings using an oscillometric blood pressure tool or a Doppler.
In addition to suffering “white coat syndrome,” which can result in stress-related hypertension, cats can quickly feel scared at the veterinarian’s office. Your veterinarian will probably take your cat’s blood pressure reading in a quiet spot and will attempt to let your cat relax before taking the readings in order to avoid a mistaken diagnosis of hypertension caused by stress.